Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos |
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Front facade view of the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos in Ponce, Puerto Rico
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Calle Salud and Cristina and Calle Mayor and Cristina
00731
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| Information | |
| School type | Specialized musical arts school |
| Established | 1947 |
| Principal | Wilfredo Colon Maldonado (Academic Director) |
| Faculty | 29 |
| Grades | 4–12 |
| Enrollment | 300+ (2017) |
| Language | Spanish |
| Area | Ponce Historic Zone |
| Website | Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos |
The Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos (which means Juan Morel Campos Music Institute) is a special school for music in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It used to be called the Ponce Free School of Music. This school is run by the government of Ponce. Its very first director was a person named Librado Net Pérez.
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History of the Music Institute
The school started in 1947. It was founded when Andrés Grillasca Salas was the mayor of Ponce. Back then, it was known as the Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce. This means the Ponce Free School of Music.
The first place the school was located was in a building that used to be a girls' school. This old school was called the Liceo de Ponce. It was on the corner of Salud and Cristina streets.
In 1977, the school's name was changed. It became the Escuela Libre de Música Juan Morel Campos. This new name honored Juan Morel Campos, a famous composer and conductor from Ponce. In 1980, Mayor Jose Guillermo Tormos Vega officially made the school part of the city government.
More and more students joined the school. Also, the school started offering more classes. Because of this, the school needed more space.
In 2008, the school grew again. It got a new building on the corner of Calle Cristina and Calle Mayor streets. This new location is right across from Teatro La Perla, a famous theater. The new building added more classrooms and offices. It also included an amphitheater, which is like a small outdoor theater.
A beautiful mosaic mural is on the building. It is called "La Abnegacion" (Selflessness). Artist Rafael Ríos Rey created it. The mural reminds everyone that the building used to be a fire station. In 2012, the city of Ponce passed a rule. This rule officially changed the school's name to Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos.
Buildings and Design
The first building of the Institute is on the corner of Cristina and Salud streets. It was built in the Art Deco style. This style uses geometric shapes and sleek designs.
The newer building is on the corner of Cristina and Mayor Cantera streets. It used to be a fire station. This building has a straight, modern design. In front of the Institute on Calle Cristina, there is a special tree. It is the only olive tree planted in all of Puerto Rico.
Music Groups and Programs
The Institute has many different musical groups for students. These groups help students practice and perform together.
Some of the vocal groups include the Coro de Niños (Children's Choir). There is also the Coro Juvenil (Youth Choir). Both of these choirs are led by music professor María Asunción Ondarra Fombellida.
The school also has instrument groups. There is a Conjunto de Tiples (Treble Ensemble). This group is led by professor Héctor Hernández. Another group is the Conjunto de Cuerdas Punteadas (Plucked Strings Ensemble).
For larger groups, there is the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil (Youth Symphony Orchestra). There is also a Banda Juvenil (Youth Band). Other groups include the Conjunto de Metales (Metal Ensemble), Conjunto de Cañas (Reeds Ensemble), Conjunto de Percusión (Percussion Ensemble), and Conjunto de Acordeones (Accordion Ensemble).
Special Achievements
The school's youth symphony orchestra received a special honor in 2010. The Puerto Rico Senate gave them a Senate Resolution. This recognized their excellent musical work.
Famous Former Students
Many talented musicians have studied at this school. Some of the well-known former students include:
- Yovianna Garcia
- Héctor Lavoe
- José (Cheo) Feliciano
- Papo Lucca
See also
In Spanish: Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos para niños
