Our story

First United Methodist Church has been in partnership with Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School, which is across the street from the church, for over 20 years. Over 90% of the students at Hunt Elementary are low income and qualify for the free or reduced meal program. In 2017, First United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Roger Madden, started offering students from Hunt Elementary 6 weeks of free beginning piano lessons after school. Volunteer teachers taught 3 sessions during the year for 2 years before they tore down the old building in 2019 to rebuild a brand new school building.

During the 3 years that it took to build the new Hunt Elementary, the idea of a music academy that provided free music lessons to students from low income families began to develop. Gene Wagner was hired in September of 2021 to develop a plan. The Music Academy @ First opened in the fall of 2022 at the same time as the new Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School opened. That first year there were 87 students who participated in the programs. During the 2023-2024 school year there were 120 students involved in the programs from 5 elementary schools as well as North Middle and North High School.