After hoping and praying for the next chapter of Texas Amps & Axes over the past five years, owners Jon and Iris Meneley’s prayers were answered in a homey, five-studio Celina campus that has been officially open since January. The new space is a warm welcome to residents at the neighborhood’s entrance. It nestles in between Domino's and The Pin Cushion, their door already dappled with tiny fingerprints from children passing by and peering in to see the magic that waits inside.
Iris said that opening a Celina campus was a big goal for them in 2024, with many ups and downs. She said that they initially overlooked the space, worried it would be too small, but gave it a second chance after their realtor suggested they reconsider. In September, they submitted the lease application and received a text from the owner just 20 minutes later.
“I was like, ‘Oh, no, here it goes,’” Iris said. “‘We're about to get shut down.”
To her surprise, the owner said he was in the area and asked if he could come and talk with them. Iris was prepared for the worst when Herman came into the Prosper location beaming.
“He was like, ‘I just wanted to come by and personally introduce myself and meet you guys,’” Iris said. “I'm so excited to see your application; my mom and sister play piano, and I just feel like the arts are so important. Music is so important…,[so] what do we need to do to make this happen?”
As the anticipation of another rejection rolled off their shoulders, Iris and Jon were ecstatic.
“He ended up being there at Prosper Campus talking with us for quite a while and learning about our history and everything,” Iris said. “He was so excited, and it was just like, ‘Okay, I think I think we finally found our home.’”
The Meneleys had been so dedicated to opening the Celina campus that they began earmarking teachers who would be willing to move to the Celina campus before even signing the lease.
“[It] was great because it allowed us to go ahead and start building a student base for this campus so that when we were open, we were ready to rock,” Iris said.
The preparation for the Celina campus moved quickly; the space was move-in ready by the first week of December, and their ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in January. While the process has been a whirlwind, Jon and Iris have only positive things to say about the journey and the way the new space has shaped up.
“It was very enjoyable watching it blossom into what it is right now, [in] contrast to what our other campus is, because the other campus does have a very unique vibe,” Jon said. “This one has its own unique identity, and we're happy with how it came out…It's minimalist but still expresses our love for music.”
One of the things Iris says she prides herself on in the new space—aside from the stunning treble clef light fixture that greets their guests—is the warmth and connection with the community.
“Kids will come up on their bikes and go stop for pizza, or they'll be walking from the neighborhood with their parents,” Iris said. “We have several families that live in the neighborhood, so it's really cool that they'll park their bikes out front and come in for their lesson.”
As they continue to bask in the excitement of opening the new location and prepare for the fall registration opening, Jon and Iris are also looking ahead to a significant upcoming anniversary for Texas Amps & Axes.
“It’s crazy, because now we're marching into our 10th year,” Iris said.
They are still working out the details of what their 10-year celebration will look like come January 2026, but in the meantime, they are brimming with joy at the chance to bring music to the community of Celina, right from their doorsteps.
Texas Amps and Axes’ Celina Campus is located at 695 N. Preston Road in Celina, or online at school.texasampsandaxes.com.