About Us

The Academy for the Performing Arts is an independent, not-for-profit community school providing year-round instructional and performance opportunities to help students of all ages reach their highest artistic potential. A distinguished faculty offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines interactive classroom learning with creative approaches to skill-building and nurturing guidance on proper stage etiquette and technique.

Private instruction is currently offered on brass and woodwinds, guitar and bass, percussion, violin, piano, and voice.

Visiting musical and dramatic artists expose students to the full variety of genres and styles within the performing arts. Students appear in recital twice a year, in December and May. The Academy was founded in 1994 by Ray Adams, DMA, as an outreach program of the Community Church in Vero Beach. It has been operating as an independent non-profit organization since January 2004. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Harriet Yemm, an all-volunteer Board of Directors, and The Education Building is also the primary venue for classes. Some private lessons are held at the Indian River Charter High School on the Mueller Campus of Indian River Community College in Vero Beach.

The Academy for the Performing Arts is certified by the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, ensuring its curriculum and instructors meet rigorous qualitative standards and participation is open to all interested individuals regardless of age, race, religion, financial means, or level of ability. Economic barriers to participation are addressed through monetary donations and in-kind gifts. Fundraising concerts are held several times a year to help support the Academy’s operations and scholarship fund.

Headquarters is Room 219 in the Education Building of the Community Church at 1901 23rd Street.

Board of Directors