Oak Cliff’s free music school has a new home.
La Rondalla moved into a former medical office building at 1107 W. Jefferson, and there’s a grand opening celebration tonight.
Musician Dennis Gonzalez, who also served 41 years as a music teacher in public schools, started La Rondalla six years ago with a grant from Big Thought. When that grant ended a couple of years ago, Gonzalez began fundraising to keep the school open and free to students. The school moved from the Oak Cliff Cultural Center to the Bishop Arts Theatre Center, where it stayed for a year.
La Rondalla recently became an independent nonprofit, backed by businessman Jorge Baldor. They secured a two-year lease on the new building, which is owned by Domingo Garcia.
The doctor’s office layout lends itself to La Rondalla’s purpose. The waiting room and lobby is now an art gallery, little free library and community room. And patient rooms make perfect music labs.
La Rondalla has about 137 students, from elementary to high school, in an after-school program that teaches guitar, bass, drums and voice.
The grand opening is form 6-8 p.m.tonight with musical performances, an art exhibit and food.
