Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico facts for kids
Façade of the historic building of the Conservatory
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| Type | Public conservatory |
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| Established | June 12, 1959 |
| Principal | Manuel Calzada Delgado |
| Students | 520 (2016) |
| Location | , |
The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (in Spanish: Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico) is a public music school located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's a special place where talented students learn to become amazing musicians. Many famous musicians from all over the world have studied or taught here. The Conservatory is also closely connected to classical music in Puerto Rico, including the yearly Casals Festival and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra.
Contents
History of the Conservatory
After the successful Casals Festival in San Juan in 1957, a lawmaker named Ernesto Ramos Antonini suggested creating the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and the Conservatory of Music. The Conservatory officially opened in June 1959.
At first, the Conservatory was meant to train musicians for the Symphony Orchestra. It also prepared music teachers for public schools. Over the years, it grew into a major music center in the Caribbean. It now offers advanced music studies to students from Puerto Rico and other countries.
Since it started, different government groups managed the Conservatory. In 1995, a new law made it independent. Now, a special board of trustees runs the school. These members are chosen by the Governor and approved by the Senate.
What You Can Study
The Conservatory offers many different music programs for students after high school. You can earn a bachelor's degree in areas like:
- Musical composition (creating music)
- Music education (teaching music)
- Voice (singing)
- Classical guitar
- Symphony instruments (like violin, flute, trumpet)
- Jazz music
- Caribbean music
- Piano
For those who want to study even more, there are master's degree programs. They also offer special artist diplomas. These are for students who want to become professional performers. The Conservatory also has classes for adults and special programs for teachers. They even have student exchange programs with music schools around the world.
Music for Everyone
The Conservatory has a Preparatory School too. This school offers classes for children, teenagers, and adults. Its goal is to help everyone enjoy music. These programs don't give degrees. But they teach music from basic to advanced levels to anyone interested.
Recognized for Quality
The Conservatory is approved by several important education groups. This means its programs meet high standards. Some of these groups include:
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Puerto Rico Education Council
The Campus Buildings
From 1960 to 2008, the Conservatory was in Hato Rey. In 2009, it moved to its new home in the Miramar area of San Juan.
The campus has three main buildings:
- The Historic Building: This building used to be a private school and a refuge for girls. It's now on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It was rebuilt from 2001 to 2008 and opened in 2009. This building holds the main offices, computer labs, piano labs, classrooms, and practice rooms. It also has two beautiful courtyards: the Luis A. Ferré Patio and the Pablo Casals Patio.
- The Parking Lot and Green Roof: This area has the Rafael Hernández Amphitheater. It also features the Laguna Plaza. From here, you can see amazing views of the Condado lagoon. This is the largest green-roof in Puerto Rico.
- The Academic Building: This building opened in August 2012. It has many important facilities:
- First floor: Here you'll find the Amaury Veray Library. This library is part of the Ángel Ramos Foundation Center for Learning Resources. There are also practice and rehearsal rooms.
- Second floor: This floor has the Bertita & Guillermo L. Martínez Theater. This includes the Jesús María Sanromá Concert Hall, the Anthony "Junior" Soto Hall, and the José "Pepito" Figueroa Hall. There are also individual classrooms and practice rooms.
- Third floor: This floor has more classrooms and practice rooms.
The Conservatory often hosts concerts for the community. Students, teachers, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, and famous international musicians perform here.
Partnerships
The Conservatory works with many music and arts groups. These groups are in the US, Puerto Rico, and other countries. Some of these partners include:
- American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
- American Library Association
- Music Library Association
- MENC: The National Association for Music Education
- Suzuki Association of the Americas
- Steinway and Sons
See also
In Spanish: Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico para niños
