Music Academy and Conservatory expanding

Brigitte Kishlar, left, and Ingrid Acosta

MCA Academy and the Miami Conservatory of Music will operate in separate locations beginning in August. As of now, they are both at the Mayfair Promenade. The two Grove institutions are expanding in order to accommodate increased demand. Brigitte Kishlar founded both MCA Academy and the Miami Conservatory of Music as separate entities with different missions and students, more than 10 years ago in Coconut Grove, but they shared space for most of their history. Operating both schools out of the same address occasionally caused some minor confusion, especially for event promotion and branding identity.

MCA Academy is a private school with grades 1-12 that emphasizes on providing personalized, immersive education in small classes for all children and those with passions like sports and the arts beyond school. The Conservatory, with more than 600 students, offers music instruction for all ages from young children to adults with a team of more than 30 professors in disciplines from guitar, strings, voice, drums, musical theatre and more. In 2017 the Conservatory began a well-received music therapy curriculum for autistic children.

In 2015 Brigitte transferred MCA’s ownership to Ingrid Acosta, who was the long time principal allowing each to better focus on growth initiatives and programs for the schools.

“We were able to operate both separately and overlap in some of the rooms because the Music Conservatory primarily offers classes in the afternoons and evenings, while MCA Academy would operate in the daytime,” according to Brigitte. “Both schools have grown to the point that each requires more space.” Upcoming plans for the Conservatory include offering classes in the mornings which will be beneficial and convenient for home schooled children or adults who may prefer that time period.

MCA Academy is moving into all new classrooms for the 2017-18 school year. The school will still be located at Mayfair in the Grove in an all-new dedicated educational space on a different level in the center. The Miami Conservatory of Music will remain in the current location on both sides of the promenade near the Mayfair Fountain.

“This is an amazing opportunity for both schools and our students,” according to Ingrid. “Brigitte’s vision of providing exceptional opportunities from elementary through high school levels and for music education will continue to flourish with this move.”

MCA Academy has open registration going on for the 2016-17 School year and is now enrolling  students for grades 1-12. The school is a non-sectarian private school whose goal is to recognize the potential in each student and provide an atmosphere that motivates learning. This inspires students to work harder and enables them to discover passions that capture their imaginations. For information and to contact MCA please visit mcaacademy.com.

The Miami Conservatory of Music is accepting students for all of its programs and musical theatre productions.  Instruction is available one-on-one or in group classes. Openings are for all skill levels from beginners to advanced students and for students seeking preparation for college and advanced studies. For details and to register please visit miamiconservatoryofmusic.com.