Vivaldi Music Academy in Houston recently closed, and former instructors say they are owed unpaid wages. ABC13 shows that multiple teachers have come forward with claims, with some saying they are missing payments of more than $5,000 and others as high as $30,000. The shutdown was confirmed on Thursday.
Houston’s largest music school recently closed and former teachers say they are still owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages. FOX 26 Houston confirmed multiple claims, including one from pianist and composer Huang Tiange, who says he is owed more than $1,000 for work done since December 2024. Some teachers have not spoken publicly due to concerns about retaliation or visa issues. The closure comes as founder Zeljko Pavlovic faces lawsuits, including a case that accuses him of not repaying a $2.6 million promissory note.
Former instructors of Vivaldi Music Academy say they are still owed wages, despite the academy and owner Pavlovic having filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and maintaining that teachers are being paid. One former teacher told FOX 26 Houston, "Just pay the teachers! Pay your employees! We're not asking for more than that. We're asking for what we're legally entitled to." Another former teacher, Todd Blackmon, told ABC13, "In the beginning, when I started, it was the dream job." The academy has not yet explained how it plans to resolve the unpaid balances.
