White Hall Arts Academy

White Hall Arts Academy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Los Angeles, California in 2011.[1] The academy offers numerous arts programs for underserved youth and adults such as voice, guitar, violin, piano, bass, drums, horns, songwriting, dance, bands, and ensembles in group classes and private or semi-private lessons. Former students have appeared in films, commercials, and television series including American Idol, The Voice and America's Got Talent.[2][3][4] Hall worked with the Chaka Khan Foundation with children in Watts, California which inspired her to start her arts academy in South Los Angeles.[4]

White Hall Arts Academy
AbbreviationWHAA
Formation2011 (2011)
FounderTanisha Hall
TypeNonprofit
Legal status501(c)(3) organization
PurposeProvide music and arts education for underserved students
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Location
ServicesMusic, Voice, Dance, and Visual and Digital Arts Education
Executive Director
Tanisha Hall
Award(s)Lewis Prize for Music
Websitewhitehallacademy.org

History

White Hall Arts Academy was founded in 2011 by Tanisha Hall, a Berklee College of Music graduate. Hall began teaching privately in her home in 2002 offering low cost music lessons but demand led to the idea of a conservatory style school serving the community. The school is located in the Crenshaw district of South Los Angeles and serves underserved students who might not otherwise have access to the arts. Hall's grandparents, Marvin and Fannie White, purchased the building in 1978 where Fannie owned and operated a beauty salon, Whitehouse Beauty Salon. Fannie let Hall know that there was a vacancy for lease in the building where she could start a music school and she leased the 2-story space where she constructed her academy.[3][5] WHAA has also worked with injured veterans providing them with music lessons as a form of therapy.[6]

In January 2014, the WHAA entered into a partnership with the City of Los Angeles to offer a free after-school community music program of classes for children ages 4–18. The program began with 25 children and in a year, enrollment had grown to over 125 children. Additionally, WHAA expanded its reach by partnering with local organizations such as Community Build, the Al Wooten Youth Center and the Right Way Foundation to provide music education and career training services.[3] In 2021, due to the pandemic, Hall launched the HeARTBeats Virtual Arts Program, which opened its doors to underserved students internationally.[7]

In 2020, WHAA was awarded $25,000 by the Covid Response Award by the Lewis Prize for Music as well as receiving their Infusion Award in 2022 for $50,000 in funding. Hall told that the funds were going to allow them to expand their efforts and better support their students.[8] Hall is a foster parent as well and provides all children from the Foster care system services at no cost.[4]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "White Hall Arts Academy Foundation". Great Nonprofits. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. "LA Music School Helps Underserved Students Reach Big Stages Including 'The Voice' & Grammys". The Global Herald. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. "Meet Tanisha Hall of White Hall Arts Academy in South LA". Voyage LA. August 5, 2019. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. "LA Music School Helps Underserved Students Reach Big Stages Including 'The Voice' & GRAMMYs". NBC Kelly Clarkson Show. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. "Tanisha Hall Bought Grandparents Building To Run White Hall Arts Academy in Los Angeles". Slauson Girl. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  6. "White Hall Arts Academy". Los Angeles Sentinel. April 6, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  7. "Tanisha Hall Founder of White Hall Arts Academy Revamps HeARTBeats Virtual Arts Program for Virtual Classes Nationwide". LA Sentinel. April 1, 2021. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  8. "Lewis Prize for Music awards $1.25 million to youth groups nationwide". San Diego Tribune. June 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
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