White Hall Arts Academy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

in 2011. 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 ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to A ...

, The Voice and

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distribu ...

. Hall worked with the Chaka Khan Foundation with children in

Watts, California Watts, California, was a city of the sixth class that existed in Los Angeles County, California, between 1907 and 1926, when it was consolidated with the City of Los Angeles and became one of the neighborhoods in the southern part of that city. ...

which inspired her to start her arts academy in

South Los Angeles South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles or simply South Central, is a region in southwestern Los Angeles County, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of downtown. It is "defined on Los Angeles city maps as ...

History

White Hall Arts Academy was founded in 2011 by Tanisha Hall, a

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cou ...

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

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. WHAA has also worked with injured veterans providing them with music lessons as a form of therapy. 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. In 2021, due to the pandemic, Hall launched the ''HeARTBeats Virtual Arts Program'', which opened its doors to underserved students internationally. 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. Hall is a foster parent as well and provides all children from the

Foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

system services at no cost.

Notable alumni

Ant Clemons Anthony Clemons Jr. (born September 26, 1991) is an American singer. He rose to prominence as a guest artist on Kanye West's 2018 single " All Mine". Clemons has since worked with a multitude of artists, including West, Ty Dolla Sign, Beyoncé, ...

(

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

winner) * Jordyn Simone (

, The Voice contestant) * Harrell Holmes (Broadway play actor ''Ain't Too Proud'', ''the Life and Times of

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

'')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:White Hall Arts Academy Non-profit organizations based in California Music education organizations