Our Story

​​​In 1997, Maury and Raquel Kelley met while working for Princess Cruises. In 2003, they combined their skills and founded Franklin Brentwood Arts Academy. Their mission was to give children the opportunity to develop their talents, build confidence, and learn how to perform on stage. They believe that music and acting lessons can have a lasting impact by helping children discover their passion and grow into confident, successful adults.

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Maury grew up in Memphis and graduated from Belmont University in Nashville. After touring with his band throughout the 1980s, he went on to work in entertainment leadership as Deputy Cruise Director for Princess Cruises, overseeing live performances and working closely with performers from around the world.

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Raquel grew up in Melbourne, Australia, surrounded by music and dance. Raised by a jazz musician father and a dancer-performer mother, she began performing at a young age, including appearing in the Australian production of Miss Saigon, before later performing in shows for Princess Cruises.

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Together, Maury and Raquel founded Franklin Brentwood Arts Academy to create a school where children feel supported as they learn, gain confidence through performance, and develop skills that carry beyond the stage.