We are excited to host another year of the biennial Ruth French Violin Competition!
Receive feedback from qualified judges, and get the chance to win cash prizes! Learn more on our webpage linked below. Deadline to register is May 24th.
More about our Summer Programs!
Stuck on what to do for your children (or yourself!) this summer? Look no further! LAM has summer camps available for a wide range of musical levels and ages. You are bound to find something that fits right for you or a loved one.
Learn more about daily schedules, core faculty members, and more on our webpages linked below!
Interview Feature on Louisville Public Media/90.5 WUOL
Louisville Academy of Music encourages young musicians to compose, not just play the music, but create their own.
Executive Director of Louisville Academy of Music Sara Callaway and composer Tahj Vaughn joined me in the studio to talk about their upcoming concert at Waterfront Botanical Gardens on March 20 at 6:30pm.
Tahj, a current student at LAM, tells us about his first experience composing, how the environment at the academy encourages him to write, and his composition style. He says his newest piece, Deep Blue Water, was inspired by Maurice Ravel. He encourages listeners to consider the history of water in the United States, how it influences our culture, and how it relates back to times of enslavement.
Listen to the full interview HERE
ACMP Chamber Music Play-In: Register by April 3!
Calling all 16+ players and singers: ACMP is once again hosting a chamber music play-in at the Louisville Academy of Music!
Have a great time sight-reading and playing in small groups, with a short showcase following the event. There will also be a social & potluck, so feel free to bring a dish of your choice to share!
Sign up and learn more at the link below. Designed for all levels 16+.
📆: April 11, 2026
⏰: 3:30-8:00pm (Registration begins at 3pm)
📍: Ruth French Recital Hall, Louisville Academy of Music
🌸 Magnolia Chamber Players at the Waterfront 🌸
🌸 Magnolia Chamber Showcase at the Waterfront 🌸
The Louisville Academy of Music is excited to announce that our 2025–26 Magnolia Chamber Players will present a spring showcase in collaboration with NouLou Chamber Players at the stunning Waterfront Botanical Gardens!
Meet the Magnolia Players! (from left to right):
M. Offutt, cello
Stone Donaldson, violin
Megumi Martin, violin
Jonathan Beacham, flute
Tierney Smith, viola
JP Hankins, viola
We are also delighted to feature old works and new, specifically two local composers, LAM student Tahj Vaughn and Daniel Gilliam.
While this is a free event, we recommend reserving your spot as seating is limited. Click the link below to reserve your spot today!
📆: March 20, 2026
⏰: 6:30pm
📍: Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Summer at LAM: Explore our Programs!
The Louisville Academy of Music is excited to announce our summer programs for 2026. We are thrilled to have three different programs, two of which are brand new.
We will be releasing more information through socials and our upcoming newsletters, so stay on the lookout! For now, click the link below to learn more and discover which program is right for you or someone you know.
Play Every Day Begins February 1st!
Due to last year’s success, the Louisville Academy of Music is once again hosting a practice-a-thon initiative for the month of February! To participate, students can complete a practice log, bingo card, or both to get the chance to win some cool prizes, one of them being a Spring semester of free lessons!
Share your practice progress on socials with #playeveryday ! Keep updated on our socials and newsletters for practice tips, tricks, and more from our LAM community.
At the end of the month, LAM will be hosting a pizza party for all participants. All other information can be found on our Play Every Day page.
Happy Practicing!
The Louisville Academy of Music takes on KY Arts Day
Today, staff at the Louisville Academy of Music made a trip over to Frankfort for KY Arts day. We advocated for the arts to our local legislator, Sarah Stalker, and state Senator Karen Berg.
We look forward to making deeper connections with our local government, and are thankful to be among such a vibrant community of Kentucky arts programs!
Electronic Music: Group class with TJ Cole
Looking for something fun to explore this new year? Join LAM Faculty TJ Cole in this unique group class!
Work collaboratively with peers and TJ using digital audio workstations. No experience required, and all ages and levels are welcome!
Mini Music Makers: Register for our Winter Session!
Looking for the perfect gift for the little ones in your life? Give the gift of music this holiday season and enroll in our Winter Session of Mini Music Makers.
Led by LAM faculty Anna Johnston, this group class is aimed for children 4-5 years old as a precursor to individual lessons.
Want to learn more? Check out our page here and watch our new promo put together by our Program Director, Kent Klarer!
LAM is the recipient of an Impact100 Grant!
BIG News! On Monday, November 10th, the Louisville Academy of Music was awarded a grant of $100,000 from Impact100.
We are so thankful for Impact100 and their generosity. This grant will work to expand our scholarship and community programs, reaching even more students throughout Louisville.
Thank you, Impact100!
Bourbon & Brass Recap: A Success!
A big thank you to all who supported LAM at our biggest fundraising event of the year, Bourbon & Brass! It was a wonderful night full of bourbon, music, and community spirit.
We raised over 9,000, critical funds that help support LAM and all of our programs!
Can’t wait for next year! 🎺🥃
Our Annual Report is here!
Our Annual Report for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year (June 1st, 2024-May 31st, 2025) is now here! Read all about LAM’s amazing accomplishments and growth we have made down below, on our home page, or find paper copies in the LAM Lobby. 🍃
NEW Winter group class: Intro to Improvisation
LAM is thrilled to announce a new group class for the winter led by faculty member Stephanie Nilles!
Discover how to get off the page and explore your creative side through improvisation. This 8-week course is designed for students to find their own unique musical voice in a supportive environment.
Classes will meet on Thursday afternoons, December 4 – February 8, and are open to students ages 12–18 with intermediate proficiency on any instrument.
Learn more about Stephanie here!
WHAS Grant Thank You!
LAM is thrilled to announce we have received a $5000 grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children!
We are happy to work with this amazing organization that does great work for our children in the community. Thank you, WHAS Crusade!
This grant will help to support our Inclusive Learning Program, a partnership between LAM and Restorative Sound, LLC.
Louisville Academy of Music and Restorative Sound are working collaboratively to offer music programs that are neuro affirming and welcoming for all learners. We believe music belongs to everyone and are excited to build resources for faculty, families, and students to support all learners. Lessons with Restorative Sound are a blend of music therapy and music instruction. Lessons are tailored to a student’s individual needs, goals, and musical interests.
October Masterclass: Stage Presence
This month’s masterclass focuses on building confident, elegant stage presence with LAM faculty cellist Alan Ohkubo.
Whether you choose to perform in this class yourself, or just come watch and listen, we’re sure you’ll leave feeling inspired. Learn more about Alan on our website and register through the link below.
📅: October 15th
⌚: 4:45-6:00pm
📍: Ruth French Recital Hall
Bourbon & Brass Tickets are now LIVE!
After last year’s success, LAM is bringing back Bourbon & Brass! Join us for a unique night blending bourbon and brass music. Check our page here for tickets + info!
SAVE THE DATE!
📅: November 6th, 2025
⏰: 7-9:30pm
📍Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Ln, Louisville, KY 40207
Thank You Metro Council!
Since 2022, Metro Louisville's funding has allowed LAM to expand our free community programming into 19 of Louisville’s 26 metro districts. This year LAM did not receive a $50,000 grant that had been critical for our expansion. However, thanks to the efforts of District 9 and councilperson Andrew Owen we were able to make up some of these funds with the support of 16 of our districts. We were blown away by the enthusiasm and support and we cannot thank these districts enough for supporting LAM: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 25th.
Composer of the Year: Reena Esmail!
We are excited to announce our 2025 Composer of the year, Reena Esmail! This year is special as Esmail is LAM’s first living composer to fill this role!
Check out her life and work on our Composer of the Year Page, or learn more on her website linked here.
Chamber Music Applications are Open!
Chamber music groups can be composed of just about any kind of instrument (or voice) you can imagine! Learn more about what chamber music is by our program director, Kent Klarer, below.
Applications for Chamber Music are due September 25th. We’ll also kick things off that same day with our Chamber music party in the Ruth French Recital Hall from 4-7pm. Apply HERE to be considered.
Learn more details on our Chamber Music tab.