Historical background

The institution was created by virtue of Law No. 35 of June 12, 1959 under the artistic and musical leadership of the illustrious Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, who served as a catalyst for personalities and government agencies to undertake the task of create a conservatory on the island. Among the government figures who coined the idea and directed the process were Mr. Ernesto Ramos Antonini, President of the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Puerto Rico at that time, and who was the main manager and creator of the bill that gave origin to the institution. Initially, its purpose would be to train first-rate musicians to nourish the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Casals Festival and train the composers, performers and teachers necessary to support the musical life of the country.

The Conservatory provides the Puerto Rican community, especially youth, with all the necessary opportunities to educate and perfect their musical skills. The academic offer stimulates the comprehensive training of students and promotes the maximum development of their artistic, intellectual and humanistic capacities. The institution promotes the excellence, timeliness and relevance of its academic offerings to maintain quality offerings that meet the educational needs of the musical labor market. In addition to its university programs, the Conservatory offers studies at the pre-university training level for children, young people and adults from the community in general through its Preparatory School.

Puerto Rico today enjoys a dynamic and solid Conservatory; one of the most relevant musical institutions in the university field in the Caribbean and Latin America.