February 2026 Newsletter
Happy February, Academy Families!
Thank you to all of our students and teachers who represented our schools in the Columbia Mardi Gras parade. And a big shoutout to everyone who came out to cheer them on and show their support. We appreciate you! Check out some of the photos from the parade below:
If you missed us at Mardi Gras, catch us in the St. Pat’s Parade on Saturday, March 14th! The parade takes place the morning of the St. Pat’s in Five Points Festival and will begin promptly at 10:00am, rain or shine. Participant arrival times will be between 8:00 and 9:30am, depending on our official parade lineup assignment. The parade begins near Dreher High School and ends on Harden Street near the Academy stage.
We are still waiting on our official lineup assignment, which will be released the week before the festival. We’ll share those details as soon as they become available! Students who sign up for the parade by February 22, 2026, may order a free Academy Festival shirt. If you plan to attend the festival after the parade, you will need to purchase a festival ticket. If you’d like to join us in the parade, sign up at: columbiaartsacademy.com/parade
And if you're attending the festival, be sure to come see our Academy Irish Choir perform on the Pot O’ Gold Playland Stage! Students from Columbia Arts Academy, Lexington School of Music, and Irmo Music Academy will take the stage for a fun, family-friendly set featuring Irish-themed selections and more. We had an amazing time last year and can’t wait to see our students perform again. We’d love to see you there cheering them on!
Our 2026 Summer Recital sign-ups open on March 1st! Recital dates are set for Friday, June 12th through Sunday, June 14th, and Friday, June 26th through Sunday, June 28th. The recitals will take place at W.W. Hootie Johnson Performance Hall in the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. To make the process easier, we’ve created a dedicated recital page with sign-up forms, dates, parking information, and maps. Visit columbiaartsacademy.com/recitals for all the latest details.
Academy Picture Days are back! Picture Day is a free event for all current Academy students. Families only pay for prints or a digital release. Students are welcome to bring their instruments and dress however they like for their photos. Picture Day is open to students from Columbia Arts Academy, Lexington School of Music, and Irmo Music Academy.
The next Picture Day will be held on Saturday, March 28. Photos will be taken by Jerry Stamps of PixelFusion, and reservations will be required. Session times will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional dates and locations will be announced soon, so stay tuned for more details.
We hope everyone is enjoying a bit of the warmer weather lately. Spring will be here before we know it, and we’re looking forward to another season of music-making with our wonderful students and families at Columbia Arts Academy, Lexington School of Music, and Irmo Music Academy!
Not a student yet? We’d love to have you join us! Get started by visiting www.LexingtonSchoolOfMusic.com, calling or texting us at 803-996-0623, or stopping by to visit us at 226 Barr Road, Lexington, SC 29072.
Musical Ladder System® Achievements!
The Columbia Arts Academy, Lexington School of Music, and Irmo Music Academy are the only Midlands music schools where students earn colorful wristbands, trophies, and certificates through the patented Musical Ladder System®, created by Academy Director Marty Fort and used nationwide. Some schools offer trophies and certificates, but none excite students like the Musical Ladder System® wristbands they proudly show off to friends.
IMA student Elliette earned their Apprentice wristband for 3 Months!
LSM student Briggs earned their Rock Star wristband for 1 Year!
LSM student Julian earned their Prodigy wristband for 2 Years!
Welcome New Students!
Please help us welcome our new students who registered in the past month!
Kaden T
Joanna B
Evan J
Wyatt J
Aidan J
Jackson W
Jackson M
Colt B
Jake W
Joshua H
Giana H
Gracie M
Amelia M
Zahra B
Hadley D
Abigail W
Naava H
Fabiola D
Catherine S
Gypsy A
Harvey K
Aarush P
Shanaya P
Alani B
Ana E
Tommy S
Clara K
Edilberto R
Jacqueline W
Wesley D
Colbie B
Alex V
Elena S
Katrina B
Douglas H
Claire W
Margaret J
Murdock T
Kaye H
Carmen H
Alvin W
Maya S
Declan R
Fatima R
Maddie G
Gus B
Chris N
Kati R
Joseph T
Gage G
Jocelyn B
Norah R
Emerson C
Ann S
Mitchell J
Aarden P
Lelan P
Gregg C
Stella H
Samson S
Allyson M
Taylor V
Ray P
Andres R
Sarah W
Is Your Teacher Sold Out?
Many teachers have sold out. If you need a schedule change or would like to be added to a waiting list for a particular teacher, day or time, please contact any of our office staff team and they can add you to the waiting list. If you are not a student yet, there are still limited lesson spots available.
Alec E
Sunday: SOLD OUT
Monday: One Spot Left
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Alyssa S
Monday: Three Spots Left
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: One Spot Left
Thursday: Two Spots Left
Anna G
Monday: One Spot Left
Tuesday: One Spot Left
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Avery K
Sunday: Three Spots Left
Saturday: Four Spots Left
Beck C
Sunday: Two Spots Left
Wednesday: One Spot Left
Friday: SOLD OUT
Ben W
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Brady M
New Saturday Availability
Brandon W
Monday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Friday: SOLD OUT
Bruce I
Sunday: SOLD OUT
Monday: Two Spots Left
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Friday: SOLD OUT
Christian S
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Christopher C
New Availability:
Friday: One Spot Left
Christopher K
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Christopher S
Monday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Friday: One Spot Left
Saturday: SOLD OUT
Cooper J
Monday: SOLD OUT
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: New Availability
Daniel O
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Emily R
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Erin M
Tuesday: Three Spots Left
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Evan S
Sunday: SOLD OUT
Monday: One Spot Left
Tuesday: One Spot Left
Garrett G
SOLD OUT
Hannah E
Monday: Three Spots Left
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Thursday: New Availability
Friday: SOLD OUT
Ilyssa W
Saturday: New Availability
Imani W
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Jack E
Monday: Three Spots Left
Tuesday: Three Spots Left
Jack L
New Availability: Wednesdays
Jana M
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Jason S
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Jennifer P
Monday: One Spot Left
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Jesse P
Monday: New Availability
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Jonathan W
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Kaci H
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Kara G
New Availability
Kate V
Monday: Three Spots Left
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: New Availability
Kerry H
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Kevin S
Monday: Two Spots Left
Wednesday: One Spot Left
Thursday: Two Spots Left
Saturday: SOLD OUT
Levi B
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Lillie G
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Mackenzie M
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: Two Spots Left
Friday: SOLD OUT
Mark V
Monday: SOLD OUT
Tuesday: Three Spots Left
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Thursday: Two Spots Left
Mary B
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Max H
Monday: One Spot Left
Tuesday: One Spot Left
Wednesday: One Spot Left
Thursday: Two Spots Left
Michael R
Saturday: Two Spots Left
Naomi J
Monday: SOLD OUT
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: One Spot Left
Friday: Two Spots Left
Paula M
Thursday: New Availability
Rachel B
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Sara F
ALL DAYS SOLD OUT
Seth R
Tuesday: Three Spots Left
Friday: Three Spots Left
Stephanie C
Sunday: Two Spots Left
Monday: One Spot Left
Wednesday: Three Spots Left
Friday: New Availability
Will A
Sunday: SOLD OUT
Monday: One Spot Left
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Winston W
Monday: SOLD OUT
Tuesday: Two Spots Left
Wednesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Wyatt M
Tuesday: SOLD OUT
Thursday: SOLD OUT
Friday: Two Spots Left
Upcoming Dates & Events
Spring Break 2026 – Closed
Apr 3rd, 2026 to Apr 8th, 2026
Memorial Day – Closed
May 25th, 2026
2026 Summer Recitals
Jun 12th, 2026 to Jun 14th, 2026
Jun 26th, 2026 to Jun 28th, 2026
Summer Break 2026 – Closed
Jul 2nd, 2026 to Jul 5th, 2026
Labor Day – Closed
Sep 7th, 2026
Thanksgiving Break 2026 – Closed
Nov 24th, 2026 to Nov 29th, 2026
Winter Break 2026 – Closed
Dec 22nd, 2026 to Jan 1st, 2027
