The music of stringed instruments fills the air and greets each guest upon entrance at the Harmony School of Arts. As you approach the former church building, you might think there are angels inside practicing on their harps.

“Harmony School of Arts was a vision inspired by God in the mid-80’s, but it was the 90’s that the dream became a reality,” said Barbara Bend, founder/executive director of Harmony School of Arts.

Bend began implementing her dream by teaching piano at her home and later incorporated violin and voice with the help of an instructor who would travel from Austin to Marble Falls to hold classes at Bend’s home. With the help of the Seriff Foundation, grants provided by community service organizations, local businesses, and state-funded programs, Harmony School of Arts became a non-profit organization, purchased a building and began incorporating a larger staff, new programs and a board of directors.

“Ten percent of our current enrollment numbers are adults,” said Bend. “We used to say that our enrollment age was 3 to 93 because we actually had a woman who began learning piano at the age of 93 and remained a student until she was 96. Music is a lifelong enjoyment and enriching for young and old alike.”

Currently, there are two schools that are offered. The School of Music is directed by Keenan Fletcher and offers a choral program, string orchestra, musical theatre, and kindermusik for children 18 months to 3 years. The School of Dance is directed by Alicia Sommer and offers creative movement, pre-ballet, ballet, pre-pointe, pointe, jazz and tap.

Summer is a busy time for Harmony School. Summers camps offer one-week programs that run throughout June and July. The dance courses include dance intensives and open dance technique. Fine arts courses include musical theater, exploring fine arts and into to French. Visual arts include focus on drawing watercolor and pastels, as well as intro and intermediate photography. There is also ...

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