The URJC is dedicated to celebrating the 25th Anniversary of its summer courses

Rosa Marquez of the Order

Around three hundred guests attended the opening ceremony of the Summer Courses of the Rey Juan Carlos University, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary with the city of Aranjuez as the protagonist. The godfather of this edition and person in charge of the opening presentation was the singer Miguel Ríos, who took a tour of the history of Spain through rock and roll, a music that profoundly transformed the 20th century. “In the sixties, this country was a black and white autarky, the least suitable place for the seed of rock to germinate. The regime did not prohibit it at first because they had no idea what was happening, or what was coming to them,” explained the author of the Hymn of Joy, whose life was changed by an Elvis Presley album. “I didn't understand anything he said, but I knew that that music spoke about me, about what I dreamed life should be like. It took me a while to understand that there was a message of empowerment for a sector of the population that had not had any power until then: the youth.”

The singer, who has an honorary doctorate from the University of Granada, acknowledged feeling very honored when he received this title: “I was a kid who did not finish primary school, who longed for education because he did not have it and who feels a reverential respect for the academy.” . However, I believe that the university has to go down to the street, not tell from a pontifical position how to live life.” Ríos joked that he has done “a lot of bowling in college and I will be happy to continue doing it as long as my body lasts.”

After the singer, the mayor of Aranjuez, Miguel Gómez Herrero, intervened, who thanked the URJC for once again supporting the municipality to hold the Summer Courses, which this year coincide with the anniversary of the death of maestro Rodrigo. author of the Aranjuez Concert. “This is the city of music, iconic figures such as the composer Domenico Scarlatti or the famous Farinelli have passed through here.” Gómez Herrero assured that the heartbeat of the city is different when these courses are held and that the town is very connected to the university.

During his speech, the rector, Javier Ramos, explained that the university cannot remain oblivious to the world around it, “it would be like a library that only gives access to those who have keys,” hence these courses are a way of opening up to the society.

Cristina del Prado, director of the Summer School, reviewed the personalities who have participated in these courses since they began in 2000, among others Mario Vargas Llosa, Carmen Iglesias, Iñaki Gabilondo and Leonardo Padura. Del Prado emphasized the role of the university as a meeting place and the importance of generating a space for debate for the dissemination of science, research and culture.

The culmination of the ceremony was a concert by singer-songwriter Javier Ruibal, who sang a song a cappella with Miguel Ríos and animated the audience with his music, a mix of flamenco, Sephardic-Maghrebi, jazz and rock styles.