Crown Point music academy to dedicate new center to teacher, symphony veteran

“Music Opens Minds.” That’s the motto of Crown Point Junior Music Academy. 

The school’s musical roots can be traced to the late Stephen Luchs – a San Diego Symphony veteran and founder of the Suzuki Violin program at the academy – who will be honored at a ceremony Thursday, when the community will dedicate a newly constructed music center and renovated classrooms in his name. 

According to a press release from the San Diego Unified School District, the facility will have “state-of-the-art classrooms with modern technology” and “collaborative workspaces.” The music center adds new music and practice rooms for students. 

These upgrades follow completion of the school’s Whole Site Modernization program, which began in 2023.  

Other campus upgrades include a renovated campus entryway, outdoor improvements, such as a new play structure, shade shelters and an expanded parking lot, and security improvements, including the addition of perimeter fencing and an emergency communications system.   

Luchs brought the Suzuki Violin program to what was then named Crown Point Elementary in 2008. The Suzuki Associations of America describes the “Suzuki Method” as a music-teaching practice “based on how young people learn language,” and emphasizes family involvement in the process and the development of “the ability to communicate through music.”  

Luchs taught violin to elementary school students and parents for 26 years. He passed away in April 2022. 

That same year, the school was renamed the Crown Point Junior Music Academy. Since then, educators there have committed to the notion of integrating music throughout their curriculum. “Even math and science have musical connections,” according to the school’s website. 

Music is also taught as its own discipline at the academy. This includes the Suzuki Violin program, as well as a free after-school music club and music enrichment in homeroom classes.