Hello Friends!

My name is Leigh Ann Cannady and I’m so glad you found your way to our website. When I opened Forsyth Academy of Performing Arts (FAPA), it was because as a vocal coach and musical director I was asked over and over again, “Where can my child go to take a class or do a show?” Whenever I was asked that question, I imagined a place where kids could come and build skills that are essential to the performing arts, but also a place where kids felt like they belonged; a place where kids knew they were accepted just as they are regardless of their experience level or innate ability. I dreamed that we could create a place where kids were learning how to be better actors, but where they were also learning how to be better human beings; people who were kind and generous and people with those “soft skills” we find the youth of today often lacking. I wanted to create a place where the staff was warm and welcoming and always worked according to my philosophy of education: Always do what is in the best interest of the child. I had a vision for a place like that and I felt like I knew just the people to help me bring it to life. In August of 2013, FAPA was born and we work every day to keep that original vision by providing a place where we foster a creative, safe, professional environment for students to develop skills essential to the performing arts and beyond.

Since those first days of having 35 students enrolled, we’ve flung our doors wide open to thousands of kids in the North Georgia area who love being a part of FAPA. If you ask any of them their favorite thing about us, you’ll get a variety of different answers, but the one thing that always seems to come up over and over again is that they feel like family. We strive to be the kind of place that values process over product and we instill the message in the kids that the joy of being creative is in the journey. The message we’re sending is resonating and we would love to have your family join OUR family. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out anytime if there are questions we can answer for you. We hope to see you at FAPA soon; whether as a parent, a student or a patron to one of our dozens of shows throughout the year. We are building a strong, passionate artistic community in Forsyth County and the surrounding area and we would love to have you join us!

See you soon!

Leigh Ann Cannady
Founder & Artistic Director
Forsyth Academy of Performing Arts