The Llíria "Primitiva" Band was founded in 1819. Its almost 200 years of history make it the oldest civil band in Spain.

It is the only band to have won First Prize at the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" in three consecutive centuries (1888, 1988 and 2005).

During its long history, the "Primitiva" Band has performed in innumerable concerts, cultural events and processions. It has played in almost every large town in Spain and in many European countries such as Germany, Belgium, France, Holland and Switzerland; in the USA (New York and Los Angeles) and in China (Beijing and Shanghai).

In addition to its Principal Conductors, the Band has also been conducted by some of the most prestigious European baton holders, including: Sergiu Celibidache, Desirée Dondaine, Odón Alonso, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Jan Molenar, Luís Cobos, Manuel Galduf and Jan Cober.

The Band has also recorded numerous CDs and DVDs, as well as broadcasting their concerts and featuring in shows on different Spanish and overseas television networks. Recently, they have also taken part in conferences (such as the XII edition of the National AIDS Conference on 20 May 2009), charity events (such as the ADELA-CV Fundraising Concert on 16 May 2009) and many other concerts.

Maestro Miguel Moreno Guna has been the Band's Principal Conductor since March 2008.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Miguel Moreno Guna

Miguel Moreno was born in Llíria (Valencia) and began his music studies in the local "Primitiva" Band. He later continued them in the Valencia Superior Conservatory of Music before finishing his musical education at the Madrid Royal Conservatory (RCSM) where he was awarded the Extraordinary End of Course Prize for Tuba. He was a founding member of JONDE (Spain's National Youth Orchestra) and musician sub-official of the Royal Guard Band. He has participated in orchestra conducting courses with Maestros Enrique García Asensio, Manuel Galduf, Francisco Navarro Lara and Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez at the University of Alcalá.

Since 1996 he has been a member of the group, "The Sir Aligator's Company", with which he has recorded various CDs.

He has collaborated with numerous orchestras such as the ONE and RTVE, the Madrid Symphony, the Region of Madrid Orchestra and the Orchestra of Picardie (France).

In 1995 he toured Spain and Portugal with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Metha.

He was a teacher of the JONDE, the Symphony Orchestra of Students from the Region of Madrid, and the Symphonic Youth Band of Castilla and León.

To name but a few, he has performed with the following directors: Jesús López Cobos, Aldo Ceccato, Sergiu Comissiona, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Manuel Galduf, Lorin Maazel, Enrique García Asensio and Adrian Leaper.

From 2002 to 2006 he conducted the RCSM Symphonic Band, and from October 2004 he has also conducted the Conservatory's Wind Orchestra.

In September 2004 he was invited to conduct the Toriviscal Wind Orchestra (Portugal).

In April, November and December 2005 he was guest conductor of the Extremadura Orchestra.

In May 2005, as conductor of the RCSM Symphonic Band, he took part in the XV edition of the Israeli Youth Band Festival, winning First Prize in all the categories. He also directed the National Band of the Israel Federal Police.

In July 2006 he directed the Extremadura Youth Orchestra's summer meeting and its subsequent concert tour.

He holds a Gold Medal from the 2001 Foro Europa.

In June 2007 he conducted the Yucatan State Youth Band (Mexico).

He was guest conductor of the JOBASCYL (Symphonic Youth Band of Castilla and León) in July 2009 and the Palma de Mallorca Municipal Band in March 2010.

Since March 2008 he has been the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Llíria "Primitiva" Music Academy and Band School.

He holds a diploma in advanced studies from the University SEK of Segovia. He is currently researching his doctoral thesis at the same University.