His wife, Helena Kagan, a pioneer of pediatric medicine in pre-state Israel, was honorary secretary in 1938–1946.

[3] As the number of students rose, the school moved to rented premises, the Schmidt building, on Hillel Street.

With the encouragement of Emil Hauser, she established the Phonograph Archives of the Palestine Institute of Folklore and Ethnology and the academy's collection of ethnic musical instruments.

The academy is an independent institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education in Israel, but also collaborates with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Students attend special workshops and master classes taught by the Academy's senior lecturers, and perform as soloists and in ensembles in Israel and overseas.