White Hall Arts Academy

What White Hall Arts Academy does

White Hall Arts Academy (WHAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts academy founded in 2011 by Tanisha Hall and headquartered at 2812 W. 54th Street in South Los Angeles. The organization delivers conservatory-level music and arts instruction to children, adults, and underserved communities across South LA, Inglewood, Watts, and Compton, with a stated emphasis on integrating social-emotional learning, mental wellness, and career readiness with artistic development. Its curriculum spans private lessons (voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin, music production), group classes (Saturday Sessions/HeARTbeats at $35/month), the free Music Creators Camp, the H.O.P.E. Choir and Ensemble, the virtual Songwriter Series, and school-based JAMM-U onsite programs. Notable technical infrastructure includes a music production and learning computer lab built in partnership with iZotope using donated Native Instruments equipment, used for music production training across the curriculum.

WHAA generates revenue through a hybrid of earned program fees (private lessons at $37-$65 per session sold as 4-pack bundles, Saturday Sessions at $35/month, music camps) and grants from foundations including the NBA Foundation, The Lewis Prize for Music, California Arts Council, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, and D'Addario Foundation, supplemented by individual donations. Distribution combines in-person instruction at the LA headquarters, daily Zoom lessons available globally, onsite delivery at partner schools (Crete Academy, Al Wooten Youth Center, Bethune Middle School, Bridges Preparatory Academy), and virtual programs reaching nationwide audiences. The organization operates with 12 employees and runs the annual Rock The Block community block party engaging 3,000+ attendees.

In 2025, WHAA extended its model into workforce development by launching Soundworks, a 10-week training program in audio, video, and lighting production for justice-affected and transitional-aged foster youth ages 18-28, which has since been designated an LA County High Road Training Program and funded by the NBA Foundation. Student outcomes include Grammy Award winners, appearances on The Voice and American Idol, Broadway tour placements, and scholarships to Brown, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Berklee. Notable alumni success stories (Ant Clemons, Sanai Victoria, Rey Fukuda) and board-level access to industry figures such as Keith Harris (Black Eyed Peas musical director) underpin the program's talent pipeline. The organization has held a Three Best Rated Top 3 Music School in Los Angeles designation continuously from 2018 through 2024 and received marquee recognitions including Lewis Prize Infusion Awards (2022, 2024), NBA Foundation grant (2026), California Arts Council grant (2025), and City of LA Woman of Impact for founder Tanisha Hall (2026).

Name

White Hall Arts Academy

Legal name

White Hall Arts Academy Foundation

Website

https://whitehallacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

White Hall Arts Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 in South Los Angeles that delivers music, vocal, and arts instruction — plus a 2025-launched Soundworks workforce-development track — to children, adults, and justice-affected and foster youth through in-person, Zoom, and school-partnership channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education and Music Instruction

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Arts-Focused Private K–12 Schools (EDAJABAN)

Keywords

• Music education
• Arts academy
• Private music lessons
• Workforce development training
• Community arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Music Lessons: Revenue from private music instruction sessions offered in-person and online via Zoom. Customers purchase individual lessons or multi-pack bundles. Single lessons range from $37-$65 depending on duration (30 or 60 minutes). 4-pack bundles provide discounted pricing.
2. Group Classes and Programs: Saturday Sessions program offering multiple classes (acting, singing, dance, drums, guitar, piano, music production) for $35/month. Additional programs include Music Creators Camp, Songwriter Series, and H.O.P.E. Choir.
3. Grants and Donations: Nonprofit funding through grants from foundations including NBA Foundation, The Lewis Prize for Music, California Arts Council, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, and individual donors. Donations page active for community support.
4. Workforce Development Programs: Soundworks program provides workforce training in audio, video, and lighting for justice-affected and foster youth, with on-the-job training placements. Program launched 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

White Hall Arts Academy is a nonprofit performing arts academy providing private and group music instruction (voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin, music production, acting, dance) to children, adults, and underserved youth in South Los Angeles. Beyond traditional arts education, it operates a Soundworks workforce development program training justice-affected and foster youth (ages 18-28) in audio, video, and lighting production for the entertainment industry. Programs are delivered in-person at the LA headquarters, online via Zoom, and through school partnership programs.

Product overview

White Hall Arts Academy is a nonprofit performing arts academy providing conservatory-level music and arts education to underserved communities in South Los Angeles. The organization operates a multi-tiered program portfolio centered on private lessons and group instruction, supplemented by specialized workforce development and community engagement initiatives. Core educational offerings include Private Lessons (voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin, music production), Saturday Sessions/HeARTbeats for ages 4+, and Music Creators Camp for ages 9-17. The organization has expanded into workforce training through Soundworks (audio/video/lighting for ages 18-28) and provides school-based programs via JAMM-U partnerships. Additional offerings include the H.O.P.E Choir and Ensemble, Songwriter Series, My First Job teen employment program, and the annual Rock The Block community event. Instruction is available in-person at the Los Angeles facility and globally via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soundworks: Workforce development program that trains justice-affected and transitional aged foster youth in live sound engineering, lighting design and video production, providing internship opportunities with entertainment venues including major sports and concert arenas.
• HeARTbeats Virtual Arts Program
• Music Creators Camp
• H.O.P.E. Choir
• H.O.P.E Ensemble
• Saturday Sessions
• Rock The Block
• Project MuszEd
• JAMM-U
• Songwriter Series

Products and services

• Private Lessons One-on-one music instruction available in-person or online via Zoom, covering voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin, and music production. Offered in 30-minute ($37) and 60-minute ($65) sessions for children and adults, with 4-pack bundles available at discounted pricing.
• Saturday Sessions Weekly group arts program for children ages 4 and up offering instruction in acting, singing, dance, drums, guitar, piano, and music production at $35 per month.
• Music Creators Camp Two-week intensive summer camp for youth ages 9-17 providing hands-on training in music production, songwriting, composing, and live music industry knowledge with mentorship from music industry professionals. Offered FREE to participants with industry sponsorships.
• Soundworks Workforce Development Program Ten-week workforce development program training justice-affected and transitional aged foster youth ages 18-28 in audio engineering, video production, and lighting design, with on-the-job training placement and internship opportunities in entertainment venues.
• H.O.P.E Ensemble Inclusive vocal ensemble for ages 9-18 focused on collaborative musical development using music as a vehicle to spread positivity and empower community participation.
• H.O.P.E Choir Intergenerational community choir (ages 7-70) with mission to 'Heal Others by Performing Everywhere'. Performs at public and private events including corporate functions and community festivals.
• Songwriter Series Weekly virtual songwriting program on Zoom for ages 13+, led by founder Tanisha Hall with rotating guest speakers from the music industry covering songwriting techniques and music business strategies.
• Rock The Block Community Event Annual community block party event engaging over 3,000 community members annually, serving as a platform for community wellbeing and cultural visibility.
• My First Job Program Teen employment program for youth ages 14-21 providing work experience as office assistants, teaching assistants, and media creators with resume building and professional skills training.
• JAMM-U Onsite School Program Onsite music education program for schools and community centers in South Los Angeles offering guitar, vocal, and music production instruction at Crete Academy, Bethune Middle School, Al Wooten Youth Center, and Bridges Preparatory Academy in Compton.
• HeARTbeats Virtual Arts Program Virtual arts education program offering classes in strings (violin and guitar), singing, dance, piano, and drums for students ages 4-12 at $35 per month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduated second cohort of 30 Soundworks students with workforce training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BandLabminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor for Music Creators Camp 2024, supporting the immersive week-long event for young musicians.
• Apple Store at The GroveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor providing field trip location for Music Creators Camp. Families welcome to attend Apple Store session.
• Tiny Room StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hosted Music Creators Camp finale event in Inglewood, CA, providing enriching environment for young artists.
• IzotopecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with leading audio software technology company to build a music production and learning computer lab at WHAA South Los Angeles headquarters.
• Friends of the Children – Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020WHAA committed to paying forward Lewis Prize grant through collaboration with local nonprofit organization.
• Native InstrumentsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Donated over $20,000 of equipment and software to WHAA/Project MuszEd Music Production program.
• Al Wooten Youth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016WHAA has been the chosen music education provider since 2016. Provides music education programming to youth at the center in South LA.
• Crete AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHAA and Crete Academy partnership hosting Music Creators Camp and providing ongoing arts education programs. Second Annual Music Creators Camp hosted July 22-26, 2024 for youth ages 9-19.
• Los Angeles Clippers FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mentorship Assist Zone program. Youth invited for 'Intro to Music Creation' workshop learning about producers and songwriters.
• Keith Harris (Black Eyed Peas Musical Director)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member and host of Music Creators Camp. Led virtually while on international tour with Black Eyed Peas.
• DisneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Disney's Create Your World series on Disney Princess Channel (Episode 2), received over 1.5 million views.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: National nonprofit founded to restore music education in schools through instrument grants and advocacy. Comparable as a larger-scale music-education nonprofit with similar funding and visibility profile.
• The Colburn School: Premier LA performing arts conservatory with extensive community school programs. Comparable as a broader, more established LA-based music and arts education institution with similar student populations in its outreach arms.
• Berklee City Music Network: Berklee College of Music's nonprofit network of community music schools serving underserved youth. Comparable as a music-education nonprofit network with industry-connected teaching and college pathways.
• Carnegie Hall's Music Education Programs: National musical institution operating extensive youth music education programs across the US. Comparable as a high-profile music education institution with similar career-pathway and workforce development missions.

Direct peers

• Little Kids Rock: National nonprofit providing free music instruction and instruments to under-resourced public schools. Comparable in delivering music education to underserved youth with industry partnership funding.
• Inner-City Arts: Downtown LA arts education nonprofit serving under-resourced youth with multi-discipline arts programming. Comparable in mission, geography, and youth-arts-with-career-pathway positioning.
• Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA): LA-based youth development nonprofit offering arts, education, and athletics programs to underserved youth. Comparable in serving the same South LA demographic with arts enrichment and workforce-readiness components.
• Harmony Project: LA-based nonprofit providing free, long-term music instruction to youth in underserved communities. Directly comparable to WHAA in mission, target population, and conservatory-style music instruction model.
• Mr. Holland's Foundation: National nonprofit supporting music education through instrument grants and school partnerships. Comparable as a music-education nonprofit focused on access for underserved K-12 students.
• Education Through Music: Nonprofit partnering with schools to provide music instruction as part of the regular school day. Comparable in delivering school-embedded music education to underserved communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thewhaa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/whitehallartsacademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/whitehallartsacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-hall-arts-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitehallartsacademy
• TikToktiktok.com/@whitehallartsacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about White Hall Arts Academy