Monarch's Musical Academy of Vizenia
The Monarch's Musical Academy of Vizenia is a bardic school based in the outer sprawl region of Throne known as the Bluetone Ring. It is known as one of the premier bardic schools in the region, having established a significant reputation since its founding in 8566. With an official charter from both the Vizenian House of Doges and the Monarch's House of Lords, it is well-funded with multiple endowments annually. It has produced multiple prolific bards and composers since its inception including Hapu Korlan, Benjamin Cardinalheim, Keezel, and Lapirnicus the Brave. It regularly tours the Kingdom with the Vizenian Chorus of Crows, a prestigious ensemble choir with a membership ranging in the 500s that draws crowds from all surrounding settlements. Its current president is Grelka Kiidian.
Founding
In response to the influx of traveling bards, artists, trubadors, actors, and performers in Sinderlan from Pillarin's Cleomand Coast due to the Cleomand Grand Octomilleniary Celebration, some lords of The Final Kingdom felt that the various cultures of Sinderlan needed proper education centers to ensure they were not drowned out by Pillarin culture. To accomplish this goal, the Kingdom Cultural Ministry collaborated with each Duchy's government to establish new cultural academies or support existing ones based on the interests of the citizens and each region's prominent cultural aspects. The project became known as the Finality Culture Initiative. In the Duchy of Vizenia, known for its varied and colorful culture due to the presence of the Kingdom's capital, Throne, one of many schools that was created was named the Monarch's Musical Academy of Vizenia. The brainchild of local bard, Kirsonna Rith, the Academy was founded to allow bards from across Sinderlan to study Vizenian styles of musical experession, as well as teaching the importance of bards' importance in oral tradition. Rith's experience as a bardic support in the Quake War with Ren led to her writing dozens of ballads recording the war, the triumphs of the Kingdom, the atrocities experienced by both sides, and the exaltation of peace. The ballads and songs she wrote became staples of Kingdom culture at the time, even going so far as to become popular in the isolationist nation of Ren. She petitioned the various bodies involved in the Finality Culture Initiative to found her own school to pass on what she had learned. Her popularity and skills in Sinderlan were well known, and thus the Vizenian House of Doges and Queen of Harmony both granted her petition and multiple grants to construct and staff her school under official charters. The academy was established in the growing outskirt neighborhood of Throne known as the Bluestone Ring. Overlooking Regalia Lake, the first eight buildings on campus were dedicated to various aspects of bardic studies.Growth to Prominence
Over the five centuries of its existence, the Monarch's Musical Academy grew both physically and in its enrollement. Being based in the outskirts of Throne encouraged many to move out of the urban sprawl of the capital to the shores of Regalia Lake to study bardic arts. The immense influx of applicants was further spurred by a extensively generous scholarships provided by the government. The increased opportunites allowed many poorer residents of the Vizenian countryside to attend free of charge. While it initially became known as a sort of "safety" school due to these lowered barriers to entry, it soon began to produce bards and musical artists that rose to fame. The Academy grew to national prominence after the rise to fame of the gnomish bard simply known as Keezel. A sensationally famous bard from the Redalian heartland, Keezel graduated from the Academy in 8637. Her reinvention of the standard ballad structure in her performances led to droves of followers. Her ballad The Green Mists of Lake Regalia became a continent-wide sensation, sung by bards across all of Sinderlan. Its reference to the lake on which the Academy sat brought great prestige to the institution. The fame of the institution that Keezel brought led to it gaining a significant boost in funding and expanded construction of the campus. It eventually grew to encompass an entire square mile, opening new schools for new types of musical thought. Innovation increased, and many began ranking it among the best institutions in the Kingdom, beating out rival schools like the Monarch's Musical Academy of Symphon, the Symphonian Chamber School, and the Lok Soni University College. The Academy later would produce dozens of famous musicians, which the Academy regularly promoted.Culture
The official cultural stance of the institution is to be as very open and encouraging of new students, open to new ideas and cultural changes to better enhance and advance Vizenian and Kingdom schools of thought.
The professors are typically scouted talent from across Perradin, many of which having graduated from academies along the Cleomand Coast. In recent years, this has led to many professors holding their students to exceptionally high standards. This has, unfortunately, led to the Academy having a reputation as a high stress environment. Despite this, the graduation rate remains consistent and student satisfaction remains in acceptible margins.
Like most bardic schools across all of Perradin, it has representative houses of Cleomand Bard Guilds, which act as fraternities and sororities for students to participate in extracurricular activities and community services. These groups, however, have come under criticism for bringing hyperindividualistic Pillarinian ideals to many bardic students, leading to a cultural stereotype of bards being promiscuous, brash, and haughty.
Where words fail, song shall prevail.
Founding Date
8548
Type
Educational, School/Academy
Alternative Names
The Vizenian Music Academy
Leader
Parent Organization
Location
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