Crown Point Junior Music Academy officially celebrated its recent remodel on April 16 by dedicating its new state-of-the-art auditorium as a performance space in memory of music teacher Steve Luchs.
The entire Pacific Beach campus at 4033 Ingraham Street, with the exception of the school library and covered outdoor eating area, is new.
The $25.5 million renovation has made the campus much more spacious. This is in part due to the construction of a 3,133-square-foot kindergarten building that replaced outdated portable structures. The campus’ five other existing buildings, totaling 37,722 square feet, were also upgraded and remodeled.
Since 1948, residents in the Crown Point area of Pacific Beach have enjoyed their neighborhood school. In 2008, teacher Stephen Luchs brought the Suzuki violin program to the campus, teaching students and parents how to play violin together, perform together and bring awareness to the importance of parent involvement.
That same year, the school was renamed Crown Point Junior Music Academy. A veteran of the San Diego Symphony, Luchs taught violin in elementary school settings to students and parents for 26 years.
Luchs was a very popular music instructor. He died due to cancer in April 2022. One year after his death, construction began as part of the campus’ Whole Site Modernization project. This included plans to construct a new transitional kindergarten/kindergarten facility and a music center and makerspace. Plans also included renovated classrooms, a safe and secure main campus entryway, outdoor improvements and new state-of-the-art equipped auditorium for musical and theatrical performances.
In a main office hallway is a tribute to the career of Luchs, who taught at Crown Point from 2008 to 2022.
A display paying tribute to Steve Luch’s career at Crown Point Junior Music Academy from 2008 until his death in April 2022. He brought the Susuki method of violin instruction to the campus. (Lindsay Phillips)
His impact on the music education of Crown Point students can not be overstated. Previous students, now finishing high school and college, “sing his praises” for the profound impact on their music education.
For example, in September 2022, a few months after his passing, then-Mission Bay High senior Stephanie Zavala organized a weeklong after-school violin camp at Crown Point in his honor. Joining her in leading the program were several Crown Point alumni.
“Crown Point Junior Music Academy taught me the importance of music education,” Zavala said at the time, who fondly recalled learning violin with Luchs in the Suzuki program. Her music education journey continued in the years after. At Mission Bay High, Zavala played in the orchestra and jazz ensemble.
“This school year (2025-2026), 171 students are enrolled in the violin program, spread among 11 classes that meet twice a week,” said teacher Michael Taggart. “For an extra challenge, students also have the opportunity to join advanced ensembles.”
Taggart, with over 25 years of teaching music, is in his second year at Crown Point.
”The CPJMA staff is phenomenal, which lets me focus on delivering high-quality music education,” Taggart said. “Best of all, I get to teach students over multiple years — watching squeaky first notes grow into confident, musical voices is pure magic.”