The Saint Lucia School of Music is an established national music institution with a long history and significant experience in successfully delivering high quality music programmes. The school wishes to continue using music as a tool to engage youth and equip participants with well-rounded skills that best prepare them for opportunities within the music industry.
The Mission
The Saint Lucia School of Music is committed to promoting excellence in all fields of musical endeavour, providing accessible music programmes and fostering greater appreciation for Saint Lucian and Caribbean music traditions.
The Vision
Transforming lives through the beauty and power of music.
Our Aims
- To provide a wide range of courses which cater to students’ performance interests and vocational goals and enable students to fulfil their true potential.
- To offer wider community-engaging opportunities for musical enrichment which will foster their appreciation for all genres of music.
- To facilitate the on-going training and professional development of teachers to ensure the highest possible level of performance and pedagogical skills.
Our School History
Prior to the establishment of The Saint Lucia School of Music, music education was largely confined to a few private individuals offering piano-parlor type tuition. Brass and woodwinds were taught through The Saint Lucia Police Band Master. The idea to establish a school that would offer comprehensive music education emerged during an informal congregation of musicians and music enthusiasts. They lamented the absence of formal music education and despaired of the prospects for budding musicians. The distance from wish to reality was a short one. In 1987 the Saint Lucia School of Music was established due largely to the mobilizing efforts of Mr. Hunter Francois, (Deceased, Lawyer and Minister of Education, Government of Saint Lucia) and a dedicated team of founder members.
The current main school property at Tapion was initially leased from Dr. Owen King, a well-known medical practitioner. It was a wooden building on a picturesque acre of land, used as a retreat for artists and writers. The building was converted to facilitate the school’s needs as best as possible and the school opened its doors on January 11th 1988 with 75 students registered. A management committee was established: Hunter Francois (President), Sir Leton Thomas, (Vice President) Trevor Cozier (Secretary), Arletta Bailey (Treasurer), Bernard Theobalds (floor member). The first classes began with donations of two pianos and a few other instruments. Harry Smith was the first principal.
In 1988 by Cabinet conclusion, the school became an assisted school and an annual subvention was provided by the Government of Saint Lucia.
The school has enjoyed the generosity of many benefactors with a keen appreciation of the arts and interest in its development. In 1992, the property came up for sale and the Government of Saint Lucia under Sir John Compton purchased the property for the exclusive use of the school.
The Saint Lucia School of Music now boasts an exemplary student pass rate and several ensembles including a Symphonic Orchestra, a Concert Band, a Jazz combo, a Youth Choir, as well as a number of performance ensembles emerging from its community outreach.
Our Locations:
Tapion, Castries St. Lucia (Main Campus)
Reduit Park, Gros Islet St. Lucia (Technology Center)
Vieux Fort, St. Lucia (Campus)
