VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
ABOUT US
Excite Academy - established 2016
I love music; I could live, breath, sing and play music all day long - I never want to be a minute without it. I don’t just love learning instruments, I love anything that encompasses music - dance, drama, musical theatre, singing, and every instrument!
Growing up with the classical way of playing music, I kept feeling like there had to be a better way than playing page after consecutive page of a book, than doing the same with the next music book. I loved playing piano but there just had to be more. And then, in my teens I discovered the television programme ‘FAME’ - an hour long weekly serial that played every Saturday night where students went to an Arts School and did their college learning through the Arts all day long, as well as core subjects. If there had been an equivalent school in NZ I would have been the first on the doorstep. But there wasn’t. And that’s when I knew, I wanted to have a school like Fame.
In 2016, nearly 40 years after that desire began, Excite Academy was born. I had spent those years bringing up my family, learning and teaching Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy, a creatively fun and playful way to learn music through singing, dance, movement, and playing instruments. Kim had spent her time doing a Visual Arts degree followed by her honours degree. And so our journey began as a mother daughter duo.
There have been many times over the past few years where it has been hard going but together with our team, our families and the wider community we have persevered through. We are honoured, privileged and blessed to stand before you today, and we will be forever grateful to everyone who has helped us.
NEW FOR 2024
After 8 years of journeying together, this year Kim has launched her own art business "Kreative Art Academy". We will still be working side by side, continuing to advertise Kim's classes through Excite Academy, however, all links will go directly to her website. I am really excited to see Kim take this step to progress herself further. Kim will also continue working for us helping with marketing and financial administration.
Johanna Claus has come back to us after two years away studying her PhD in Dance. We are delighted to have Johanna on the team again, and excited for Johanna to be presenting Preschool Music and Dance classes, Vocal & Choir opportunities and Morning Somatics for adults, all in Raglan.
We look forward to another fantastic year of meeting budding musicians, performers and artists that we can nurture, teach and impart our knowledge to, with our range of highly qualified, capable teachers assisting us to do this.
Welcome to Excite Academy for 2024.
Celia Williamson
