The Central Musical School - Academy of Performing Arts (Russian: Центральная музыкальная школа — Академия исполнительского искусства) is an Academy of performing arts and specialized children's music school with an eleven-year curriculum. Instruction is provided in both music specialties and general education subjects. It was established in 1935 on the basis of the Children's Department of the Moscow Conservatory, founded in 1932. The school was awarded the Order "For Merit in Culture and Art".
History
In 1932 a Children's Department is established at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory to prepare students for admission to higher music education institutions. The initiative was initiated by Professor Alexander Goldenweiser and the Conservatory's director, Stanislav Shatsky. A Special Children's Group for especially gifted children (approximately 15 students) is organized. In 1935, by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, the Children's Department of the Moscow Conservatory is renamed the Central Musical School of the Moscow Conservatory. The Special Children's Group is integrated into the school system. The school is moved to a two-story building next to the Moscow Conservatory. The school offers both music classes and general education classes, following the secondary school curriculum.
In 1941, due to the Great Patriotic War, the Central Musical School is evacuated to Penza in August. Teachers and students are housed in the art school building, while classes are held in the premises of Penza Children's Music School No. 1.
In October 1943, the Central Musical School returns to Moscow. The school moves into a new, standard four-story building constructed near the Moscow Conservatory. In 1954 the theory and composition department opens at the Central Musical School.
In the 1960s a boarding school opens in a pre-revolutionary mansion next to the Central Musical School. This opens the door for children from all over the Soviet Union to study at the school.
In 1979 the Central Musical School closes for major renovations and is moved to a neighboring building. Early the following year, it returns to its original location. In 1987 the Central Musical School building is declared unsafe and unfit for classes. In the fall of that year, the Central Musical School and boarding school were relocated to 15 General Karbyshev Boulevard, Building 3 (Oktyabrskoye Pole metro station) into a standard five-story school building, unsuitable for the simultaneous teaching of music and general subjects. The boarding school is located in the same building on the second floor (nicknamed "the goat's house" by students) and lacks rehearsals (rooms with pianos where students can independently rehearse musical pieces). The reconstruction of the old building lasted 18 years.
In 2005 the reconstruction of the Central Musical School building was fully completed. The Central Musical School returned to its original location, a building fully equipped with everything necessary for music lessons. The official opening of the renovated school took place on March 21st, attended by Minister of Culture, Alexander Sokolov and his predecessor, Mikhail Shvydkoy. In the spring of that year, the boarding school also returned to its original location.