Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – The Barcelona Municipal Music Conservatory (c. Bruc, 110-112) is set to commemorate its 140th anniversary with a grand open day on Saturday, March 7th, starting at 10:30 AM. This celebratory event will offer a rich program of activities throughout the day, including various concerts, auditions, and guided tours of its modernist building, culminating in a central anniversary concert by the Conservatory’s Band.
A Day Full of Music and Culture
The open day schedule is packed with opportunities for the public to engage with the Conservatory’s vibrant musical community:
- 10:30 AM: Open Day commences.
- 10:45 AM: Informative session on admission tests for the 2026-2027 academic year, including presentations on Music and Dance by the Professional Dance Conservatory of the Institut del Teatre in the Eduard Toldrà Auditorium.
- 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Solo and chamber performances at the Conservatory entrance.
- 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: The library will be open to the public for fund consultation and loans.
- 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Guided tours of the modernist building.
- 11:30 AM: Youth and Girls’ Mixed Choirs perform in the Eduard Toldrà Auditorium.
- 12:00 PM: Multiple concerts featuring Cobla, Flute Orchestra (Eduard Toldrà Auditorium), Piano: Narcisa Freixas centenary (Room 016), Guitar (Sala Vermella), and Bruc Sax Ensemble (Peixera).
- 12:30 PM: String Ensembles 1st and 2nd years (Eduard Toldrà Auditorium), Organ visit and discovery (Organ Classroom), and BCN Accordions (Peixera).
- 1:00 PM: Central concert: Conservatory Band celebrates 140 years (Eduard Toldrà Auditorium), Tenor Ensemble (Sala Vermella), and Harp Ensemble (Sala Vermella).
- 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Solo and chamber performances at the Conservatory entrance.
- 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Guided tours of the modernist building.
- 5:00 PM: Wind Ensemble 1st and 2nd years and Jazz Choir (Eduard Toldrà Auditorium), Student compositions (Room 016), Chamber Music (Sala Vermella), and Cello Ensemble (Peixera).
- 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: The library will be open to the public for fund consultation and loans.
- 5:15 PM: Polyphonic: dances (Organ Classroom).
- 5:30 PM: Informative session on admission tests for the 2026-2027 academic year in the Eduard Toldrà Auditorium.
- 6:00 PM: Piano concert (Eduard Toldrà Auditorium) and Percussion classroom: Marimba solo (Peixera).
- 7:30 PM: Symphony Orchestra performance in the Eduard Toldrà Auditorium.
Throughout the day, the Students’ Families Association will provide information on their work and projects at the main entrance.
A Renewed Image for a Historic Institution
The 140th-anniversary celebration also coincides with the launch of a revamped website on Tuesday, March 3rd. This new digital space aims to offer improved public service, better adapted to the informational needs of students, faculty, the educational community, and the general public. This transformation aligns with the current municipal web communication strategy of the Barcelona City Council.
Furthermore, the Conservatory is unveiling a commemorative logo for its 140th anniversary, which will be used in both negative and positive versions throughout the year.
From Music School to Conservatory: 140 Years of History
The Municipal Music Conservatory originated from Barcelona’s first Municipal Music School, established on March 2nd, 1886, by the Barcelona City Council. Josep Rodoreda served as its inaugural director.
Initially located on Lledó Street, the school moved to a larger building in Parc de la Ciutadella, specifically in the Castell dels Tres Dragons, a decade later due to growing space requirements. Following Josep Rodoreda’s directorship, maestro Antoni Nicolau took the helm.
In 1928, the school found its permanent home at the current location on Bruc Street, 110-112, at the corner of València Street. This building, a modernist work by municipal architect Antoni de Falguera, a disciple and collaborator of Puig i Cadafalch, is listed as a historical heritage site of the city. In 1944, this municipal music school was re-established as the Barcelona Municipal Higher Conservatory of Music.
Until the 2000-2001 academic year, this center was the only public institution in Catalonia offering higher-grade musical education. Subsequently, the Conservatory shifted its focus to providing professional-grade education exclusively. On September 15th, 2004, its name was definitively changed to the Barcelona Municipal Music Conservatory.
Source: https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/eixample/es/noticias/el-conservatorio-municipal-de-musica-de-barcelona-celebra-140-anos-de-historia-1607191
