Meet Javier Iglesias Martin of Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier Iglesias Martin.

Javier, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
SOL-LA Music Academy is a nonprofit music school founded in 2007 by violinist and pedagogue Margaret Lysy based on her experiences as a student at the City of Belfast School of Music in Northern Ireland. During “the Troubles,” a time of great political sectarian strife, the Belfast School of Music brought students of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds together from across the religious divide, providing a safe haven through programs that would effect social change through music.
Margaret believed music is in everyone and for everyone. Like the City of Belfast School of Music, SOL-LA created a program that uses music education to support youth empowerment, giving students a wide range of experiences that will help them to develop crucial life skills, from infancy to adulthood.
In 2023, after Margaret decided to retire, I became the new Artistic Director. This was a natural continuation of the values and musical integrity of SOL-LA’s founder. In a manner similar to Margaret’s background, my musical experiences growing up in Spain profoundly influenced my life and the lives of those in my community. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, I found in music education an outlet for expression, creativity, and self-exploration—one that also fostered lifelong friendships.
Over the past 18 years, SOL-LA has established itself as one of the leading music schools on the West Side of Los Angeles, positively impacting countless students’ lives. Building on this legacy, the school aims to inspire the next generation of students and continue making positive change in our community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been struggles along the way! SOL-LA’s first group of teachers started out working from their home studios as the school did not have the means to rent a building. SOL-LA has since been using Little Dolphins, a pre-school in Santa Monica, which allowed us to offer group classes and ensembles on Saturdays. SOL-LA has since remained at Little Dolphins, which is a nice space that has limitations. For example, the pandemic forced the school to change the layout of the building making the only large performance space no longer available for recital use.
The COVID-19 pandemic was definitely another difficult moment as all music lessons and classes had to be moved online. SOL-LA is all about bonding and building community, so this isolation and the inability to truly play together was difficult for the students and faculty. However, we managed to get through it together and support each other! The faculty did an amazing job to connect with the students and parents hosting group classes, studio classes, and even online recitals! Slowly students and faculty were able to meet in person for outdoor lessons and concerts, and finally we were back inside without restrictions. The issues caused by the pandemic did not stop there and, in the years that followed, the school struggled with low enrollment and burnout in the students and staff.
The transition from our founder era to the next chapter proved to be harder than anticipated for many reasons. But the most important one was the sudden loss of beloved cellist, teacher, mentor, and board member, Antonio Lysy. Together with his wife Margaret, their work touched many people in the community making a profound impact in the lives of countless students. Antonio’s kindness, generosity, and elegance inspired many, and his legacy is still very present in our community. Some of his former students are on faculty at SOL-LA, and this year, we are proud to launch the Lysy Fellowship which offers highly motivated students from underserved communities the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive, tuition-free music education at SOL-LA Music Academy,
Although SOL-LA’s work has been very important to the Santa Monica community, the school has always been a hidden gem on the West Side. For this next chapter, we are working hard to fulfill SOL-LA’s potential and build a sustainable and prosperous future for the students and the community.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
SOL-LA Music Academy’s mission is to provide high quality performing arts education to students from all backgrounds and economic circumstances in an engaging and encouraging environment fostering achievement and community. We believe music has the power of bringing people together and transforming lives, and at our school we welcome students of all levels and backgrounds, from early childhood to adults. No matter if the student wants to pursue a career in music or just want to do it for fun, our structured program is designed to support the individual path of every student fostering a lifelong connection to music.

Our programs serve almost 300 students students of all backgrounds both in an after-school conservatory-style program on weekdays and Saturdays, and with in-school instruction partnerships with local schools such as Saint Anne School and Saint Monica Preparatory. At Saint Anne’s, the only non-public Title 1 school in Santa Monica, SOL-LA offers a tuition-free music program and instruments to all students grade TK- 8. Our classes include music appreciation, instrumental classes, choir, and after school orchestra practice. The program has become an integral part of the curriculum and life at the school.

SOL-LA employs a fully-integrated music learning system that is based on proven classical music teaching methods balancing a strong technical foundation with artistry and creativity. Students at SOL-LA can experience private lessons, group classes, ensembles, chamber music, music theory & composition, early childhood education (0-8 years old), adult education, performance opportunities, community service, and workshops and masterclasses with special guests. We offer instruction for violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, and voice. Our well-rounded holistic approach emphasizes the relationship between music and other life experiences.

This year we are launching a new class, Bravura – Musical Expression and Wellness, designed to empower students as expressive, confident, and self-aware artists. Through a rich curriculum that integrates acting, movement, improvisation, public speaking, creative writing, mindfulness, and physical awareness practices, students learn how to lose their fear on stage, communicate openly, and cultivate wellness practices that support lifelong artistry.

We want SOL-LA to be more than a place where you get your lessons and classes, but a warm, supportive, and inclusive environment where children of all backgrounds come together to be creative and expressive, form lifelong friendships, and share their love of music with the community. Our vision is to cultivate community through music.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
SOL-LA prides itself on employing some of Southern California’s top music educators. Our teachers are multifaceted professional musicians who are deeply committed to fostering a joy of music in their students. In SOL-LA’s system of music education, our teachers blend a pursuit of excellence with a fun and supportive learning environment.
Our teaching philosophy focuses on educating the whole person, with a special emphasis on wellness and expression. We know that music enhances the enjoyment of life and promotes well-being. However, music students often struggle with balancing out busy schedules, dealing with performance anxiety, and injuries. Our goal is to educate our students early on in the importance of healthy habits, injury prevention, and mental health awareness.
We put a big emphasis on performing. We teach students how to deal with nerves, present themselves and talk in front of an audience, and collaborate with other students in rehearsals and class projects. Through our in-school Upbeat Musicales, community performances, and our new signature class Bravura, students learn how to feel more confident and expressive.

Finally, we strive to make music education accessible to anyone, regardless of economic circumstances. We recognize the power and value of difference and welcome and embrace a culturally diverse community. That’s why we offer scholarships for low income families, the Lysy Fellowship, and are deeply invested in our community partnerships like Saint Anne’s.

Pricing:

• 50% Off Fall Group Class Tuition for New Families
• Schedule a Free Trial
• Individual Lessons start at $55/lesson
• Group Classes start at $450/semester
• Financial Aid Available

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.sollamusicacademy.org
• Instagram: @sollamusicacademy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOLLAMusic/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sol-la-music-academy-santa-monica