A music school at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church that provided private one-to-one instruction to children closed earlier this month after 27 years.
The Johnson Ferry Conservatory for the Arts announced on a social media posting Monday that it was with “heavy hearts” that it was closing its doors.
The church website noted in a separata message that Johnson Ferry recently hired a consultant to conduct a child safety review across the organization.
“It has been determined that we can no longer allow one adult to be in a room alone with one child. Of course, this directly impacts our model for private music lessons. So, after much prayer and discussion, we have decided that we will be closing the doors of the Conservatory.”
The final day of operation was Aug. 5.
East Cobb News left a message with the church seeking further information. Communications director T.J. King sent a statement nearly identical to the conservatory message, adding that since its inception, the school’s objective has been to “give each student a first-class music lesson in a safe Christian environment.”
The conservatory had more than 20 teachers at the time of its closure, offering instruction in guitar, piano, bassoon, oboe, saxophone, clarinet, viola, violin and voice. The school also conducted recitals (see video below, from April) and other special events featuring the students.
The conservatory message ended by saying that “it has been a privilege to teach thousands of children in East Cobb, and watch them develop their God-given gifts. We pray God’s very best for all of them!”
King added that Johnson Ferry is continuing a children’s music program on Wednesday evening and has student choirs during the week.
“Our church and its many ministries are healthy and growing and we are excited about what the future holds,” King said.
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