The Municipal School of Music and Dance 'Araceli Carrillo Pérez' in Lucena is celebrating its 25th anniversary under the motto '25 years forming artists and creating emotions'. Since its inception in the 2001-2002 academic year, the center has welcomed over 10,000 students, offering around twenty specialties and solidifying its role in the local cultural landscape. The special anniversary program is open to the public.
The project began in 2000 with the aim of consolidating artistic disciplines that already had a tradition in Lucena but were previously taught in a scattered manner. Establishing the school required an authorization process based on having highly qualified teaching staff, an accredited curriculum, and facilities compliant with regulations. The center's director, Mamen Galindo, emphasizes that it is an authorized and regulated institution, not just a collection of workshops, noting the initial success of 212 students in its first year.
Initially, the school started with five teachers offering subjects such as music and movement, piano, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, and classical dance. Today, the staff has more than doubled, and the course offerings exceed twenty specialties, with dance being one of the most evolved disciplines. Although current enrollment (between 300 and 400 students per year) has decreased from its peak growth years, partly due to declining birth rates and the proliferation of alternative sports and cultural activities for young people, demand remains high, with waiting lists for piano and early childhood programs.
Galindo distinguishes the school's role from that of a conservatory: while the latter is professionally oriented, the school caters to both aspiring artists and individuals who find personal growth and cultural enjoyment through music and dance. She believes one of its greatest achievements is contributing to the formation of a cultural audience, in addition to enabling numerous students to pursue higher education in music and dance.
Inclusion has been another defining characteristic, with specific programs and adaptations developed for students with diverse abilities and educational needs. The wide variety of students, encompassing children, adolescents, and adults, is a hallmark. Many former students now enroll their own children, entire families are connected to the center, and individuals over 60 share learning spaces. A significant portion of the activities introduced over the years have originated from the students' own interests, which Galindo describes as the secret of 'living art schools'.
Family trust has been crucial, with the director noting that word-of-mouth has been the primary form of publicity. This emotional connection is particularly evident during the anniversary celebrations, as many former students have spontaneously contacted the school to participate in commemorative events, some even rearranging travel plans to return. The school's external projection has also expanded, with participation in exchanges and projects in countries such as Denmark, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Italy, and Luxembourg.
A notable milestone occurred after the pandemic when the school was selected to represent Andalusia at the first major European festival for music and dance schools in Luxembourg. This is in addition to cultural and institutional recognitions, participation in activities linked to Mozart Year in Granada, awards received by former students, and collaborations with various local groups and associations. The 25th-anniversary program included activities for schoolchildren, jazz and dance masterclasses, open days, a photographic exhibition at the Casa de los Mora, and participation in a European festival in Italy, culminating in a gala at the Municipal Auditorium.
The anniversary also brings a pending challenge: the need for larger, more adapted facilities. The demand for a new venue has been a constant throughout much of the school's history and has been raised with various municipal governments over the decades. Galindo recalls that different projects have been proposed and presented to address this need, but none have yet materialized. The complexity lies in the requirement for buildings with specific spatial, acoustic, accessibility, and safety conditions, needs that are daily demanded by users.
“"We simply demand the necessity, because it exists and because our users demand it from us daily."
Twenty-five years on, the Municipal School of Music and Dance of Lucena celebrates not just a round number, but a community that has trained professionals, enthusiasts, and cultural audiences, establishing itself as an educational and artistic benchmark for several generations of Lucena residents.
