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With the support of a number of forward looking members of the community, a board of trustees was formed to lay the groundwork of the Academy. By February 1991, the Academy opened its doors to its first 50 students, offering courses in instrumental performance and music theory.
After holding lessons and performances at several sites during its first year of operation, it became clear that the Academy needed a permanent home. So in 1992, the Pennsylvania Academy of Music acquired and moved into a location on Prince Street in downtown Lancaster. In 1996, the Academy was accepted into full membership in the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.
Over the years, physical improvements to the building have included; refurbishing a recital hall and performance space, adding a reading and listening facility and constructing a large rehearsal hall and recording studio.
The Academy has also expanded on its programming and outreach during that time. To meet the needs of its increasing enrollment, which grew to more than 400 in the first decade, the Academy formed a wind ensemble, a children's choir and a string orchestra.
The Academy also instituted an international program in cooperation with area high schools, developed the Bravo Program to foster the talents of inner city youth and organized the all scholarship Summer String Institute. From its start to the present, the Pennsylvania Academy of Music has and will continue to offer young musicians the quality instruction and varied opportunities that will lead to excellence in performance.
In November 2002, Pennsylvania Governor Mark S. Schweiker awarded the Academy a $6 million matching grant for the construction of a new facility that will contain a 350-seat recital hall, recording studio, classrooms and a music library.Demolition of original facility began in May of 2006 and the Academy relocated to a building on Liberty Street until construction is completed in 2008.
