NELLORE: Named after the world-renowned playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, the SPB Government Music School in Nellore continues to operate out of a rented building, even after completing 50 years since its establishment.
The institution faces long-standing challenges, including a severe shortage of teachers and damaged musical instruments in urgent need of repair.
Established in 1974 at Kota village in the then undivided Nellore district by the family of former minister Nallapareddy Srinivasulu Reddy, the school was later relocated to
Nellore city during the tenure of then Chief Minister Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, following a recommendation by former Governor Bezawada Gopal Reddy.
Over the years, the school has functioned from several rented premises in the city. It is currently housed in a building adjacent to the Rotary Club. The institution was renamed the SPB Government School of Music & Dance after the legendary singer passed away due to Covid-19 in 2020.
However, the lack of infrastructure and staff has raised concerns among students and cultural enthusiasts, who are urging authorities to provide a permanent building and adequate facilities to preserve and promote traditional music education in the region.
The music school offers four-year certificate courses and two-year diploma programs in Carnatic vocal music, violin, Bharatanatyam, mridangam, and veena.
Each year, it trains around 30 to 300 students in various art forms.
Over the decades, it has been led by renowned principals, including Komanduru Seshadri, Annajirao, Aruna A, Ranganayakamma, Duddhu Seetharamayya, Munikumar, and Maddela Saibaba. Currently, Jyothirmayi serves as the principal.
Despite repeated proposals, no funds allocated to music school for upkeep
Despite the abundance of talent and art lovers in the district, the school has seen little to no growth in infrastructure. Former students who learned under minimal facilities went on to establish successful careers across the world and in government services.
“Among all the government music schools in the state, Nellore’s holds a special place. But lack of a permanent building is a major drawback. If the government allots land in the heart of the city and builds a dedicated campus, many future artists can be nurtured here,” said an official from the music school.
The demand for a permanent building has been raised repeatedly by local residents. During her tenure as District Collector, one official allocated 8 cents of land at Kasturba Kalakshetram for the school. Although building plans and estimates were sent to the government, construction never began. Later, an attempt to lease the Kalakshetram to a private entity for 90 years was met with public outrage and was eventually cancelled.
“I completed my diploma in vocal music here. Back then, we had teachers for all subjects. After veena teacher Madeshwar Kumar passed away, all veenas went unused. When my friend and I recently visited the school, we were saddened to see them abandoned,” said Vedantam Harshavardhini, a former student.
Due to a shortage of instructors, several instruments-including veenas, mridangams, violins, and sruti boxes - have remained unused and require urgent repairs, each costing around `10,000. Despite repeated proposals, the school has not received any funds for maintenance. “Public representatives of Nellore must focus on the school’s development. If the name of SP Balasubrahmanyam is to be honoured for generations, the school must have a permanent building and new courses,” said M Saibaba, a retired principal.