By JILL BHOWMIK
Fans of live music should mark their calendars for a special day to honor beloved violin teacher Stephen Luchs at Crown Point Junior Music Academy (CPJMA) on May 10 from 4-6 p.m. The event is the brainchild of Friends of CPJMA and Cathy Valenzuela, former CPJMA employee, and parent of a child who learned violin from Luchs.
“We wanted to do a music day, something that brings joy, something that brings happiness,” Valenzuela said about the event. Luchs was an accomplished musician who taught CPJMA students the violin using the Suzuki method. He passed away on April 10 of last year.
“I wanted to continue his legacy as long as we could,” Valenzuela said. Luchs’ love of music, particularly when created by youth, was evident to anyone who ever saw his students perform. His music and life lessons live on in his students.
Fifth-grader Emma Steinberger said that learning an instrument helps her let out her emotions. “If I feel happy while I am playing the violin, I can let out those emotions in the song. The same goes for being sad,” Steinberger said.
Luchs liked to start class by asking the students if they knew any jokes. “He always used to joke around. He was just so funny,” fourth-grader Marlee Overton said. She credits Luchs for the fact that she was accepted into the San Diego Unified District’s advanced orchestra. “He was a really great teacher,” she said. Luchs, Overton recalled, didn’t let the COVID restrictions prevent him from teaching violin, which he did via Zoom when the school was shut down.
The music-day organizers want to make sure that the love Luchs had for music education and musical performances continues to grow. The event will include music performances, interactive activities, speeches, and opportunities for former students to perform. There will also be photos to remember Luchs. The public is welcome to this day in his honor created in hopes that his impact plays on.
“We should always continue celebrating Mr. Luchs for his dedication, his motivation, his kindness, and his contribution to teaching violin,” Steinberger said. “Not only was he my teacher, but he was a friend. A funny, motivating, intelligent friend.”
