Monthly Newsletters - October 2025
Articles for this month include "Exciting Treats this Fall!", Student Spotlight - Kensley Harris, Campus News, and more!...
Exciting Treats this Fall!
Dear Students and Parents,
The month kicks off with our Southshore production of Willy Wonka JR. at WPAT in Westwego! We will be treated to three musical performances: 2:30PM on October 11, 6:00PM on October 11, and 2:00PM on October 12. Tickets are available here! Seating is reserved and limited, so get your tickets now!
Each year, towards the end of October, things start to look extra spooky around campus! From October 24 – 30, come dressed up in your Halloween costume for class! We’ll be offering trick-or-treating in the studio the whole week. Don’t forget we will be OPEN for lessons this Halloween! Themes are as follows for each day:
Friday October 24: Video Game Character Day
Saturday October 25: Classic Halloween Villain
Monday October 27: Mythical Creatures
Tuesday October 28: Circus Day
Wednesday October 29: Pirate Day
Thursday October 30: Cartoon Character Day
Lastly, we will be hosting a special Jam Night at the new Three Rivers Theater in Covington on November 15. Teachers will be recommending students to perform, with the possibility of walk-in participation! This event will be free for all to attend!
Our new Covington campus is finally open, and we are so excited to offer our full catalog of classes at this new campus! What’s even more exciting: we have our own theater! Keep your eyes peeled on Three Rivers Theater as we develop its online presence - you can visit the website for more information on upcoming shows and information about booking our own show or event!
As you can see, this October, it’s all treats and no tricks! I also have a fun video on our YouTube page outlining how to play the first part of J.S. Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”. For a scary good time this Halloween, I highly recommend placing a huge speaker in the bushes outside of your house, hooking up your keyboard, and watching the faces of your trick or treaters light up full of surprise like jack-o-lanterns as you serenade them at the front door! Pro tip – this also works well for any instrument, especially electric guitar with optional distortion pedal!
For those students and families still interested in getting started in lessons this fall (but may have been too busy at the start of the school year), October is still a great month to get started; it’s never too late! Call, text, or stop by today as we’d love to answer your questions, show you around our school, and get you started on your music, dance, or acting journey!
~ Ryan Cullen, Academy Director
Willy Wonka JR. tickets are selling fast!
Get yours before they sell out!
There will be three showings of the musical, so join us for one or join us for all! Tickets can be purchased here or click the button below!
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Recording Studio
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October Birthdays and Upcoming Events
Shoutouts - New Students and Faculty & Staff!
September Student Spotlight - Kensley Harris
This month’s Student Spotlight features Mandeville campus student Kenlsey Harris! It’s been just over four months since she joined us here at LAAPA to take voice lessons.
Outside of LAAPA, Kensley enjoys participating in theater at Mandeville High, especially musicals. Her favorite music style is Broadway, but she also really enjoys listening to jazz and pop. Kenlsey’s favorite artist is Laufey. She plans to stick with the performing arts when she starts college in a few years, by way of either a major or minor!
Kenlsey loves her voice lessons with her instructor, Dr. Vera, who has helped her gain immense confidence. Lessons have taught Kensley how to enjoy transitioning from singing along with songs to singing confidently on her own with strictly instrumental backing tracks. She cannot go on enough about how much confidence she’s gained from her lessons, but Kensley’s also developed more vocal consistency, of which she is also very proud! She also appreciates the many performance opportunities afforded by LAAPA. We are so proud of how much you’ve grown in such a short time, Kensley, and cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in these formative years!
Artwork by Michaela Howell
We are very fortunate to work with local artist Michaela Howell. Many of her paintings and art are on display at all three of our school campuses!
Michaela recently brought in new artwork that can be viewed at both of our Northshore campuses. The beautiful piece above is available for purchase at our Mandeville location for $850. Interested in purchasing art from Michaela? Inquire at the front desk!
With down home country humble beginnings Michaela has always been very resourceful. She cuts, sands, primes, paints, and in some cases stains her abstract versions of the wooden instruments, creating very hands-on works of art. This resourcefulness has “Played” out very nicely in her most current work. Though the recycling of varying musical instrument components including guitar strings, violin knobs, music sheets featuring the instrument showcased, Michaela portrays a ‘current’ sense of style combined with a very vivid color pallet, creating a symphony for the senses!