The Manoa School of Art & Music evolved from “Manoa Piano School,” originally founded in 1988 by Carolyn Espina Stanton.
Nestled in the serene green valley of Manoa, the school’s principals – Carolyn and Tim Stanton — moved the Conservatory into Manoa Marketplace in September 2012. The Conservatory is meant to be not only a school for the arts, but a gathering place for teachers, performers and students to practice the school’s philosophy of “educational creativity in music and the arts.”
The Conservatory was founded so that the premier Honolulu music and art teachers could have a school with elegant, fully functional and easily accessible studios with which to accommodate their students. Each music studio is also equipped with at least one Yamaha grand piano. The classical décor of the school reflects the architecture of a northern Italian hill town, and is beautifully appointed with paintings by principal Tim Stanton.
Piano, voice, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, guitar, and ukulele are now offered. Group classes in guitar and ukulele are now available, and a children’s chorus is planned for the near future. Art classes (maximum groups of 10 students) begin with “introduction to the arts” and progress towards both oil and watercolor painting. A beautiful recital space is provided for all teachers for concerts or recitals. Weekly student recitals and workshops are also planned in the coming months. Regularly scheduled events here will include both a jazz/blues and a classical series with top local and visiting professional musicians.
The Conservatory features a 90-seat auditorium and stage where special events can be held. The Recital Hall – called Toby’s Hall — features a beautiful Yamaha 7’8″ Concert Grand Piano. Again it is decorated in a northern Italian style, and the windows feature etching of the outline of the Koolaus which surround Manoa Valley.
The top floor includes another 100 seat auditorium where we hold special events.
This multi-functional hall features Medici’s on Friday and Saturday evenings for weekly Jazz concerts featuring the best live music from our top local and visiting musicians. See our Events Calendar for updates.
In addition to the School, Toby’s Hall and Medici’s provide an ideal setting for other events such as weddings, receptions, meetings, hula, ballroom dancing, and any other type of gathering or performance.
Parking in Manoa Marketplace is readily available and is free for all patrons of Manoa School of Art & Music.
Please contact Carolyn Stanton through the Contact link on this website if you wish to sign up for music or art lessons, or wish to schedule an event or recital for your group.