Soon, as in early next week, the Struthers House will come alive with the sound of music.

The heritage building at 12229 Harris Road is going to be, as of Tuesday, Sept. 7, the second location for the Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts. In addition to moving to Struthers House, the music academy will continue to operate at its original location at Unit 21, 22621 Lougheed Highway.

At the music academy, students of all ages and abilities from Pitt Meadows, west Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, and surrounding areas learn piano, voice, guitar, bass guitar, violin, drums, saxophone, flute, clarinet, children's choir, and rock bands in the Academy of Rock.

"It was always part of our business plan to have a presence in both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows," owner Judith Bergthorson said. "With all of the exciting building and expansion at the core of Pitt Meadows, coupled with the stated commitment by City Council to expand their focus on the arts, it seemed that now was an excellent time to expand the success of our Maple Ridge location to Pitt Meadows."

In 2005, Bergthorson and her partner Robert Hornsey opened their first music school at their Maple Ridge facility, where music lessons in voice and all instruments continue to be offered. The music academy's original location is currently being renovated to include two more studios as well as additional seating space.

"Things are hopping," said Bergthorson, who is thrilled about soon being part of the Pitt Meadows community.

The Struthers House underwent extensive renovations after being hit by an arsonist in March. The city-owned house used to be the location of the Ridge Meadows Women's Centre and then was used by the Katzie First Nation to store archeological artifacts until the fire.

The house was built in 1931 by William Struthers Jr. who lived there until his death in 1970. The City of Pitt Meadows bought the house in 1994. It is a protected property on the Pitt Meadows Heritage Registry and is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

The expansion to Struthers House and Pitt Meadows is the product of what Bergthorson describes as "the council turning themselves inside out to accommodate our needs as a music academy."

The house will be rented to the music academy for $1,469 per month and will be adjusted annually by three per cent.

"The council had declared that putting arts and culture at their forefront is part of their municipal goal right now," Hornsey said. "We really think, from the outset, that music is just a vehicle. It's a community development exercise. Arts and culture enrich the whole community. We want to be part of building that fabric, and making a greater presence in Pitt Meadows."

z Bergthorson Academy is now accepting registrations for classes in early September. The grand opening of the academy's Pitt Meadows branch is Saturday, Sept. 11. For more on the academy visit: www.bergthorson.com, e-mail info@bergthorson.com, or call 417-3603.