About Willan Academy of Music:
Company Size: 25+ employees
Where: New York, NY
Client Industry: Music and Education
Joined OnPay: November 2015
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Setting the stage for a new kind of music academy
For Kenji Haba, running a music school wasn’t always the plan. Before becoming the founder and director of the Willan Academy of Music, he started a career in accounting, but the work just didn’t resonate.That realization led Kenji to put the spreadsheets aside and pursue his lifelong passion: music.
After earning his master’s in guitar performance from the Manhattan School of Music, he began reimagining what a student’s musical education experience could look like. What emerged was the Willan Academy of Music — a space rooted not just in personalized lessons, but in fostering a genuine, lasting love for musical discovery.
What makes Kenji’s journey unique is how he’s found harmony between the numbers and the notes. Rather than leaving his accounting roots behind, he used that financial foundation to build a business that is as operationally sound as it is creatively fulfilling. From managing operations to running payroll, Kenji ensures the business maintains a steady tempo. For him, even the administrative side is rewarding, because it supports the teachers and students who make the mission possible.
Even as the academy has grown, Kenji makes sure he is never far from the classroom. Over the past decade, Kenji has mentored many of his students from their very first lesson, through high school, and all the way to their college send-offs.
THE CHALLENGE
Searching for the right payroll partner
Kenji had tried well-known providers, but the experience felt rigid, impersonal, and far from what he actually needed for his back office. Settling for a one-size-fits-all solution was not an option. He needed a partner that felt as intentional and adaptable as the community he was building. Searching for a payroll provider that could truly keep up, he focused on a few non-negotiables:
- Flexibility to seamlessly pay and manage full-time and part-time teachers
- Automation to take the complexity out of payroll and tax filings
- Pricing that made sense for a growing business
THE SOLUTION
Finding the right payroll partner in OnPay
Kenji compared payroll services, explored platforms, and read reviews. In the end, OnPay rose above the rest with its intuitive design, tax automation, and flexibility that actually fit his academy’s operating model.
Music school review
“OnPay is exceptionally user-friendly and facilitates seamless payroll management. For our hourly rate employees, the ability to import Excel data into OnPay significantly streamlines the process.”
— Kenji H., Owner, Willan Academy of Music
THE RESULTS
More time back with less admin to manage
Onboarding to OnPay was seamless. After a quick setup, Kenji no longer has to worry about tax compliance or whether his team is being paid accurately. Instead, he easily onboards new hires, and relies on a smooth integration with QuickBooks to keep his books in sync. OnPay fits naturally into his workflow, running quietly in the background.
With more time back in his day, Kenji can focus on growing his business, strengthening his marketing efforts, and making a meaningful impact in the music community.
