Reina Sofia: Training Musicians to Change More Than Just the Score
Since its founding in 1991, the Reina Sofia School of Music has been regarded as one of Europe’s premier classical music institutions.
Madrid – In the hallways of the Reina Sofia School of Music, the echoes of classic music practice sessions intermingle with something else: conversations about entrepreneurship, social innovation, and the power of music to change lives. It’s a soundscape that speaks to a subtle revolution in music education.
The origins of this shift can be traced back to the International Santander Piano Competition, a prestigious event founded by the pianist and philanthropist Paloma O’Shea, which exposed a notable gap in the preparation of Spain’s emerging musicians. The response was Reina Sofia, a school that quickly built a reputation for producing world-class talent. But today, the school is responding to a pressing new challenge—how to train musicians for a world that demands more than flawless technique.
According to the 2018-2019 Survey of Cultural Habits and Practices in Spain (Ministry of Culture and Sports), only 9.4% of the population attended classical music concerts during the previous year. This figure highlights the importance of musicians’ ability to connect with a diverse audience. No longer content with producing only virtuosos, Reina Sofia is now focused on preparing musicians who can use their craft to communicate with broader audiences—and even change society itself.
Each year, the Reina Sofia School admits roughly 150 students from over 40 countries, with one-third from Spain, one-third from Latin America, and the remainder from other parts of the globe. Training costs are covered by the school, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of promising young musicians. But as the world shifts, so too does the school’s mission.
“We’re teaching our students that being a musician today means more than just excelling on stage. It’s about understanding how they can be an active member of their community and the power of their work to impact people’s lives.”
Esther Viñuela (Coordinator of the Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Program, at Reina Sofia).
Melodies of Change
This philosophy is woven throughout the school’s programming, most notably in its Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Programme, which was introduced in 2016. Each year, about 20 master’s students are divided into small groups, tasked with designing and implementing a project that uses music as a tool for social impact. The projects are supported with funding, as well as coaching sessions and expert guidance. The result is not just theoretical knowledge but hands-on experience in crafting solutions to real-world problems.
This approach aligns with a broader shift in the cultural sector toward the impact economy, where social and environmental accountability are increasingly valued. For performing arts institutions like Reina Sofia, embracing this movement means not only enhancing their social value but also tapping into new funding sources from impact investors and socially conscious sponsors. By actively measuring and showcasing the social impact of its programs, the school demonstrates its commitment to fostering a sustainable, socially engaged future for classical music. In a report published in they make the case that performing arts and classical music help within 5 major categories: Improving the quality of education; employment prospects and professional development; well-being and quality of life; creating a more inclusive and sustainable society; and making people happier in their private lives, with the subsequent effect that they feel happier at work.
For example, in a study involving 25,000 secondary schools over 4 years in the USA (Catterall, 2009), a meaningful connection was established between the teaching of arts subjects and academic success, especially among students from lower socioeconomic groups. In addition, the relationship between mental health and the arts is a growing field of academic study. Recent studies show the therapeutic potential of intensive MBAT (Mindfulness-based art therapy) and other mindfulness-based interventions for serious conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and anxiety (Beerse et al., 2019).
As the cultural sector grapples with its role in an ever-changing society, Reina Sofia is also working to democratize classical music in tangible ways. The school organizes over 300 concerts each year ,most of them free, reaching more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and community centers across Spain. These performances aim to break down barriers between classical music and the public, engaging audiences who might never set foot in a concert hall.
“It’s about accessibility. Music should not be something that’s kept in a box, reserved for a select few. It has the power to heal, to inspire, and to bring people together—especially in places where it’s needed most.”
(Julia Sanchez, CEO at Reina Sofia)
Composing World Collaborations
In November 2024, the school’s mission to integrate social awareness into music training was highlighted through a collaboration with Ensemble Connect – a USA-based programme developed by Carnegie Hall in collaboration with The Juilliard School, the Weill Music Institute, and the New York City Department of Education. Reina Sofia hosted the current cohort of Ensemble Connect, organizing a series of events, including a concert at the Reina Sofía Museum, organized by Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical in Madrid, workshops, and a round table discussion, bringing together musicians, educators, with a diverse set of the public to explore how artists can better engage with different audiences and adapt to various social contexts.
The workshops targeted a diverse range of audiences, including a senior citizen center and a music center run by a local NGO that welcomes children facing social challenges. In these sessions, members of Ensemble Connect, observed by students from Reina Sofia, demonstrated various techniques to help participants experience music in new ways and foster a connection with the audience. The round table discussion explored the methodologies of these two institutions, highlighting concepts such as “situational excellence”—the ability to adapt one’s approach based on the audience—as well as the significance of improvisation, not only in music but also in navigating a complex and often unpredictable world.
“… Too often, musicians are trained in rigid environments where perfection is the goal…but the reality is that music, like life, requires flexibility and the ability to respond to the moment. That’s something we need to teach.”
Elia Cornejo, Coordinator of DaLaNota’s Social Artistic School and a participant in the discussion.
Harmonizing Impact through agents of change
For Reina Sofia, this is just the beginning of a larger transformation. The school is in the process of establishing a student council and developing the alumni network to create a culture of collaboration and advocacy, allowing young musicians to take an active role in shaping the future of the field. The long-term vision is clear: to produce not only great performers but socially engaged artists who are equipped to use their talents for the greater good.
As Paloma O’Shea’s original vision continues to evolve, Reina Sofia remains a model of excellence in classic music—but now with a broader purpose. In an era where the lines between art and social engagement are increasingly blurred, the school is preparing its students for a world that demands they be more than just musicians. It’s a world where they are also expected to be innovators, advocates, and, perhaps most importantly, agents of change.