Lakehouse Music Academy Turns 10!

Lakehouse Music Academy (LhMA) is proud to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2023, commemorating a decade of real-life, relevant music education with unforgettable events, including the Academy's first block party on Lake Avenue in downtown Asbury Park.

“I never could have imagined all of the remarkable, life-changing experiences that have happened here over the last 10 years- so many beginnings, breakthroughs, relationships, and success stories,” said Jon Leidersdorff, Founder of Lakehouse Music Academy. “I am honored and grateful that this dream has been wholeheartedly embraced by our community.”

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Since 2013, LhMA has provided progressive music education, inspiring students of all ages and backgrounds to become active music makers in the community. Operating seven days a week, year-round, Lakehouse offers tailor-made music lessons, songwriting sessions, and music production curricula for all ages, including adults. Their unique approach includes performance band classes, private lessons, live performances, an original songwriting program and record label, summer camps, and workshops. The academy is committed to the development of comprehensive musicianship for every student, at every level, and at every age.

Real-Life Performing Opportunities?

Throughout the last decade, LhMA has held 30 Big Gigs, the academy’s live performance festival that concludes and showcases the students’ semester of learning and rehearsing. The school has proudly hosted Big Gigs at iconic Asbury Park venues like the Stone Pony, The Wonder Bar, and the Asbury Lanes, as well as The Vogel in Red Bank. In this time, the academy has grown its student body from thirty students in 2013 to more than one-thousand students today. In addition to the original Asbury Park campus, Lakehouse opened its Red Bank facility in April 2021, in an onsite partnership with the Count Basie Center for the Arts.

This February, Lakehouse will be kicking off its tenth year with its biggest Big Gig to date! Growing from a simple weekend showcase to an expansive 5-day festival, this event will feature over eighty student bands at two quintessential Asbury Park venues. The Big Gig will take place at the Asbury Lanes on February 5th, and the 8th through the 11th, with an additional show on February 19th at the Stone Pony.?

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LhMA has also worked in tandem with the Asbury Park Music Foundation to provide inclusive and comprehensive music programs and scholarships to children in the community. With both onsite instruction and offsite classes, the Academy has provided music education to schools throughout Asbury Park, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Sister’s Academy, the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, Hope Academy, the Asbury Park High School, and others.

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Lakehouse Students Making Waves

LhMA alumni have gone on to become successful recording and touring artists, professional audio engineers, popular Youtube and social media content creators, and entertainers in the TV and film industry. Both independent musicians and student bands have cultivated dynamic, thriving music careers. Many young adult students are currently pursuing their musical dreams at some of the country’s strongest music programs – including Berklee College of Music, Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music NYU, University of the Arts, Rutgers University, and many more. They have received the opportunity to perform with and learn from industry legends such as Wyclef Jean, Jay and Max Weinberg, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen to name just a few.

Speaking more about the academy’s growth, Leidersdorff says, “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! To me, It feels like we’re just getting started. I’ve never been more motivated and excited. We’ve made plans to expand our space in Red Bank and are committed to bringing the unique curricula and programming to the next level."

Learn more about Lakehouse and check out the academy calendar lakehousemusicacademy.com.

Follow LhMA on all social media platforms at @lhmusicacademy.