The “funeral music” in the streets of Lisbon – TVI24

The students of the Conservatory of Lisbon led Monday a funeral procession through the streets of downtown Lisbon, to alert the government to the need for school construction.

From the National School of Music (EMCN) to Largo Camões and thence to the Rossio and then make the return trip, about a hundred music students carried signs, banners, photographs illustrative of building degradation which houses school and, symbolically, a coffin.

“We today we will not bury anyone. We are aware to what would be the burial of music, what would it give up the music, if the ministry does not give the money to rebuild the conservatory and not continue to support the music, especially the National Conservatory, “he told Lusa Raquel Alves, president of the association of students of EMCN and organizer of the event.

The goal, he explained, is to not let the attention achieved in recent weeks, with protests and complaints, to be forgotten the public and protection: “It felt satisfied that they had given us. If not forget again. ”

The school principal, Ana Mafalda Pernao, who accompanied the students to Largo Camões, stressed that students’ have been part of their school and have wanted to show that these are not the conditions to be able to have dignity classes’. “Unable to music and to the national culture the country is poor and it seems that dies anything,” he added.

The path, which to Largo Camões passed without haste, the touch of a drum roll that accentuated the silence of the protesters, had in its first stop the most symbolic moment of protest, with a brief performance of students. Near the statue of the poet Luís Vaz de Camões, interpreted the “Funeral March” by Chopin, to classmates, teachers, and some tourists who passed through the Chiado district, who gathered to see and wanted to know what it was.

Ten rooms were closed for security reasons, following an inspection of the Municipality of Lisbon in February. Last week, students closed the school to lock and concentrated outside the building in a protest supported by parents and teachers.

The direction of EMCN met with the General Directorate for Schools last Thursday, and now to present estimates for the realization of the building recovery works, and Ana Mafalda Pernao liked that could still get into the Easter holidays.

The director insists on the need to meet with the Minister Nuno Crato, having already submitted an application, to which we received no response. “For us it is essential, because we think it is the time for us to answer what they want to do with the school,” he said.