About

Archipel Music Academy was founded by Claire Conolly (Bachelor Music, Performance), an Australian violinist, who has worked professionally in Australia and since 2010 in the Netherlands.

Claire studied at the University of Sydney Conservatorium and was a member of the internationally renowned Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, prior to studying at the Royal Conservatorium of The Hague.

Claire established the Archipel Music Academy in response to families who required a professional who was experienced and knowledgeable in the UK syllabus’ and music exam system.

Many international families in The Hague either relocate back to the UK or to other schools around the world, and are therefore in need of continuity in their musical education. The ABRSM and TRINITY college exams are held worldwide, which makes it a particularly popular and convenient syllabus to follow.

Archipel Music Academy offers the opportunity for children to participate throughout the academic year in regular Recital performances, exam programs, festivals and competitions, in order to support and encourage progress and musical development.

Also on faculty at the Academy is our English and Dutch speaking teacher, Indigo Smith-Poelz. Indigo is from Colorado in the United States and graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in Historical Performance. Indigo furthered her studies by moving to the Netherlands to study at Utrecht Conservatorium. Indigo’s strong background of Violin/Piano Suzuki training and academic study makes for a wonderfully versatile educator here at the Academy.