Chesapeake Bay Middle School Students Rock with Justo Lamas at Old Mill

Old Mill’s auditorium sounded like a 1998 Backstreet Boys concert Friday morning as piercing screams from 550 adoring students, including a class from Chesapeake Bay Middle School, cheered on Justo Lamas.

A Spanish-speaking rock musician from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lamas has toured the United States and performed his hits to middle and high school students for the last 15 years while inspiring them to embrace the Spanish language and culture.

Entitled “Lo Mejor de Mi” (The Best of Me), the concert series is a hybrid of musical entertainment and hands-on educational activities, possessing an energy rarely seen during other academic assemblies.

“The students really go nuts for [Lamas],” said event coordinator Kimberly Spence, Old Mill’s department chair for classic and world languages. “They bring posters and make T-shirts.”

Hosted by the school’s Spanish National Honor Society, Spence and her students helped plan and execute the concert while raising funds for their program.

Comprised almost completely of middle school students from throughout Anne Arundel County, the crowd sang along and cheered the entire show—a deafening hour and a half.

Lamas' vast experience as a performer was evident as he seamlessly played off the crowd’s energy, leading dance moves and prompting the young fans to chant Spanish phrases. Lamas said he performs 60-65 shows during the school year throughout the country.

Throughout his performance, the Argentine utilized a large screen that showed the lyrics of his music, enabling the kids to sing in unison. Every few songs he invited children onstage to compete in counting contests, Spanish tongue twisters and even a soccer ball-juggling contest.

The concert helps bring the Spanish language to life and enables students take ownership of their education, according to Andrea Alcombright, a Spanish teacher at Severna Park Middle. 

“It’s an authentic way of learning and is one of the most exciting things we do during the year. It’s really rewarding,” said Alcombright. The concert Friday was her eighth time seeing Lamas live.

With such a boisterous audience, the adoring fans and their screams could be heard throughout the complex as the loud base thumped its way through the halls.

Despite the show’s success, Lamas will soon be entering his last tour for the indefinite future to focus on his family.

“I love my children and I don’t want to lose any great moments with them,” said Lamas in a soft, gentle voice after spending almost an hour signing autographs, taking pictures and talking with fans.

The husband and father of two will continue to make music, but said he wants to be in control of when and where he tours in order to stay close with his daughter, 5, and son, 2.

“At that age, they need me and I need them,” said Lamas.

The Argentine may be absent, but his company, the Justo Lamas Group, will continue to host the education-centered concerts with a new talent, Ennio Emmanuel, said Lamas.

As the event concluded, students were so intrigued by the musician that at least a dozen got their foreheads signed by Lamas due to a lack of paper.