Hawk Music Academy

Our first Music Explorers Camp of the summer is approaching! We have some fun themes planned for this summer for all of your kiddos' ages 4-9! Check out our website for more camps that are available or scan the QR code! https://www.hawkmusicacademy.com/summer-camps

Don't let the fun stop just with the school year ending! The deadline for the 1st half of the summer was today, but it's still not too late! You can register at anytime during the summer. The 2nd half of the summer is due by June 20!
If you book 4 or more lessons, you can be a part of our Summer Jam concert on August 1!

We can't wait to be a part of your summer plans! ☀️

Summer Camps are just around the corner at HMA - and registration is open! Head to hawkmusicacademy.com/summer-camps for more information or email [email protected] for even more!

We can't wait to see all of your shining faces at our camps - don't forget to sign up for summer lessons, too! Keep an eye out next week for a feature highlighting one of our upcoming camps.

Introducing, HMA instructor, Ms. Martha Carroll!

Martha Carroll was born in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and began piano lessons at age 6. After moving to Georgia during middle school, she also began playing the violin in the Gwinnett County School System and played through high school. She loved playing by ear, composing, and dabbling with other instruments, such as her dad’s guitar. Her mom taught her to draw and write, and Martha had a passion for art with dreams of one day animating for Disney. She also loves writing books and short stories. Her time spent at the exclusive Georgia Governor’s Honors Program as a violin major, however, helped solidify her love of music and was the final decision-maker to pursue a degree in music.

She earned a Bachelor of Composition at Syracuse University with Honors in Piano
Performance. As a freshman, she began playing piano for church services and served as a
church pianist for 32 years. Over those years, she wrote and arranged many hymns and secular
songs for church choirs, friends, and students. She especially loves creating a new piece of
music from century-old lyrics.

With a passion for writing fantasy, Martha is the author of The Diamond Series, Imagine Role Playing’s official novel series. She has written three books so far, with three more planned to complete the series. Besides her love of music, art, and writing, Martha enjoys rockhounding with the Georgia Mineral Society.
Martha has now been teaching piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar, theory, and composition for 28 years. Music and writing are her passions. She believes the greatest reward as a teacher is seeing her students grow up and use what they learned in music lessons – self-discipline, self-expression, perseverance, and discovering the joy of accomplishing a goal - to fulfill their dreams in whatever path they choose in life.

Our teachers and students are so talented at Hawk Music Academy, and we couldn’t be more elated to show them off!

Introducing, senior piano student, Niyathi Gorthi!

Niyathi Gorti is a senior piano student of HMA instructor, Martha Carroll. Under her instruction, she has evolved from a beginner/intermediate pianist to tackling advanced music in less than 4 years. She has participated and received a Superior rating every year in the Cu***ng Federation Festival. In addition to piano, she is also a Bb and Eb clarinetist, and violinist. Niyathi has a skill for learning instruments quickly – she excelled quickly in piano, becoming advanced in 4 years, and in clarinet, only for 2 years. Some of her favorite composers include Gustav Holst, Frédéric Chopin, Koji Kondo, and Frank Ticheli. When not playing music, Niyathi spends her time teaching at a martial arts studio, or curls up with a Nintendo game.

We are so proud of Niyathi for all of her accomplishments at the end of her high-school career, and are honored to have her as a member of the Hawk Music Academy family!

Here's our End-Fall 2025 / Start-Spring 2026 Newsletter! Includes a "Catch-Up" Newsletter for End-Spring and Summer 2025!

End-Fall 2025 / Start-Spring 2026 Newsletter Email from Hawk Music Academy Upcoming Events, Summer Camps, Buttons, News, and More!   End-Fall 2025 / Start-Spring 2026 In this Issue:  Letter from the Executive Director End-Spring & Summer 2025 "

Announcing our first "Pop-Up Class"! Instrument Swap with our amazing teacher, Mrs. Martha Carroll! If you/your child ever wanted to try the piano, violin, cello, guitar, harp, or piano horn, this is a great introductory class for you! Family and friends are welcome!

RSVP here: https://www.hawkmusicacademy.com/pop-up-class

First up in our student highlights is Devin Haynes - a student of our CEO, Dr. Dawn Dalangin Hawk!

Devin Haynes has been a student of Dr. Dawn Dalangin Hawk since he was 5 years old and is now a junior in high school. Under her instruction, he has successfully completed all levels through Level 10 of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations in Piano. He has also completed most levels of the RCM examinations in Theory and History, and plans to finish the Level 10 exams in Theory and History in the next year. Devin has also participated in the North Fulton Music Teachers Association Fall Festivals, Cu***ng Federation Festival, and the Georgia Music Teachers Association Auditions. He was selected as a top performer and cash prize winner in the NFMTA Fall Festival for every year he participated (over 10, we think!). In the Federation Festival, he received Superior ratings for many years in Piano Solo, Piano Duet, and Theory, and was also selected as a Top Performer. In the GMTA Auditions, he has been a Regionals qualifier and also was selected as a top performer last year in the NFMTA Local Auditions where he was awarded a scholarship. Devin is also a competitive tennis player and enjoys spending time with his dog, Mochi, who is the puppy of Dr. Dawn's two labradors - Aggie and Wall-E!

Click the link for Devin's most recent performance ⬇️ https://youtu.be/SwUChqhz27w?si=fLJFhFy25afv2Htr

Beginning today, we will be having student and faculty spotlights a few times a year! We are elated to showcase our extraordinary students and faculty! Up first is violin & piano teacher - Ms. Cayla Cappel! 🥳🎹🎻

Ms. Cayla Cappel grew up in Johns Creek, Georgia and attended college at Utah State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis. She has a book published - with a second book on the way! She considers herself both a musician and writer, having trained in both piano and violin for over 20 years. Cayla teaches piano, violin, and theory at Hawk Music Academy! She has worked extensively with children, having been a swim teacher for several years. Under the tutelage of Dr. Dawn Dalangin Hawk, she is in the process of earning her Royal Conservatory of Music certificates in piano.

A few fun facts about Ms. Cayla: she was introduced to our beloved Hawk Music Academy through another HMA teacher – Mr. Ian! Ms. Cayla and Mr. Ian also shared the same piano teacher when they were children. Outside of music, Ms. Cayla is a self-described nerd – she loves movies, reading, writing, and gaming. When she isn’t training in classical music, she loves to listen to metal, film scores, and watch anime!

"I guess I enjoy working with kids so much because I am still a child at heart," – Cayla Cappel