Our Mission

The Central Music Academy's mission is to foster equitable access to high-quality, tuition-free music instruction.

We believe music can take you anywhere--it changes lives, transforms communities, and makes the unimaginable possible. However, music lessons are often prohibitively expensive. CMA addresses this disparity by offering quality music education to youth who would otherwise not have access.

CMA is both a solid foundation and a springboard for our students to realize their potential. Through music instruction and performance opportunities, CMA students achieve excellence in music while receiving consistent mentorship, enhanced responsibility, self-esteem, goal-setting skills, and creative thinking that is carried into all aspects of their lives—empowering them through music.

The Central Music Academy's long-term aim is to strengthen our community by reaching out to one child at a time. We hope to see our students become well-rounded individuals who, even if they do not choose to make their career in music, maintain a lifelong passion for, and connection with, the arts.

For more about CMA, please watch the videos below or call the CMA office at (859) 221-2190.

History

As an arts enrichment program, the Central Music Academy has provided free musical learning opportunities for more than 1,500 kids since 2004.

We currently partner with the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra, the Kentucky Arts Council, WUKY, Berklee City Music Network, LFUCG Partners for Youth, LexArts, the UK School of Music, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Fayette County Public Schools.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to collaborate with the National Symphony, the East End Association, West End Community Partners, the Carnegie Center, M.A.S.H. of the Bluegrass, the Downtown Lexington Corporation, the Salvation Army, Hurst Music, New Horizons Band, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, the Hispanic Education Association, the YMCA, the University of Kentucky Music Therapy program, and other neighborhood and community organizations.

Board of Directors

Pam Bridges, CHAIRwoman

Jane Johnson, VICE CHAIrwoman

Debbie Spike-pierce, Treasurer

Kristyn Disponette, Secretary

Adriana Garza

GAIL HOYT

Burton Joyner

Tracy lovan

Joseph Owens

Henry Sneed, Jr.

Lois Wiggins

RICHARD YOUNG

Past board members

CMA thanks these former board members for their time, commitment, and service:

WILLIAM ALVERSON, BEN ARNOLD, DON BARNEY, JOSÉ BRAS, ADELE BURT BROWN, JIM CECIL, KATE COVINGTON, SEAN CUTSHALL, JON ELLIOTT, AMELIA GROETSCH, GARY HAMMONDS, PAM HAMMONDS, JOHN-MARK HACK, ROBIN HICKS, MARLON HURST, RHONDA JACKSON, ROB JAMES, NATHAN JONES, JANE KELTON, DELMA PEOPLES, BRENDA PETERSON, SCOTT PIERCE, MICHAEL PREACELY, LINDA REEB, HARRY RICHART, MICHAEL RINTAMAA, JOSHUA SANTANA, HOLLY SALISBURY, JANET SCOTT, Holly Scudder, SUGAR SLABAUGH, CAROL SPOTTS, FRANK SPRAGENS, JOE TACKETT, ANNE TAUL, PAULA TAYLOR, GEORGE ZACK

Our Teachers

The 100+ teachers who have taught at CMA over the years hold Bachelor of Music degrees from a number of conservatories and universities. One-half of them have completed master’s or doctorate degrees in music, or are currently working on them. They hail from 26 different states and 15 different countries.

Administrative Staff

Erin Walker Bliss - Director

859.221.2190

Erin Walker Bliss is on the world music faculty at the University of Kentucky. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees are from Northern Illinois University and DePaul University respectively, and she holds a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree in percussion performance and a Ph.D.in Musicology/Ethnomusicology from the University of Kentucky. Erin has taught courses in music appreciation, jazz history, Asian music, and the history of rock at the University of Kentucky and was a temporary instructor at Northern Illinois University in the summer of 2007. She has also been on the teaching faculty at the Bands of America World Percussion Summer Symposium, the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Drum Camp, and the Birch Creek Music Center. As a percussionist with an extensive background in world music, Erin’s diverse musical interests have allowed her to travel to Korea, Trinidad, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Thailand, Canada, Croatia, and throughout the United States. She has recorded for Honeyrock Publications and Alfred Publications, and is a founding member of the nief-norf project, a contemporary music ensemble. Erin has worked at CMA since 2005.

Michelle Clouse - Assistant Director

859.221.2190

Michelle Clouse, a native of Northern Kentucky, graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Michelle participated as a peer mentor for UK 101, an introductory class for incoming freshmen. She also was a site leader for UK FUSION, a program striving to bridge the gap between the University of Kentucky and the city of Lexington. Michelle also interned at Kentucky Education Television on the production of Where the River Bends,which was awarded two regional Emmys. Clouse completed an internship at Kentucky Refugee Ministries as a coordinator for World Refugee Day. She worked at the Singletary Center for the Arts for four years, being promoted three times to a house manager Level 1. Since 2006, Clouse has been the Assistant Director at the Central Music Academy.