The Cullera "Santa Cecilia" Band was founded by Maestro Antonio Chornet Font in 1907; the Music Association was founded two years later, on 1 April 1909.

On Corpus Christi 1907, the Band took to the streets with 35 musicians in uniform and carrying their flag. The musicians, who came from the municipal music theory school and other bands, then gave their first concert, the musicians already being experienced thanks to the town's tradition of music and bands which dates back to the eighteenth century.

In 1925 they attended the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" for the first time and in 1929 they won Second Prize in Division One. In 1933 they took part in the Narbonne International Contest (France) where they won three prizes: Impression, Sonority and Execution. In 1949, now in the post-war era, the Association reformed its band and entered the Valencia Contest in the Special Division. In 1950 they returned to Narbonne (France) where they received the highest number of points possible, competing against French, Belgian and Swiss bands. At this time they alternated attendance at the Valencia Contests with other competitions, such as the one hosted at the Escorial. In 1954 they won Second Prize in the Valencia Special Section and Third Prize in 1955. In 1957 they participated in the Castellón de la Plana Contest and won First Prize in the Special Division.

Then came a period of consecutive Second Prizes in the Special Division of the Valencia Contest, until they won First Prize in 1975. From this year on they won further prizes in the Valencia Contest, including those in 1984, 1989 and 1992 which were accompanied by Honorable Mentions.

In Kerkrade (Holland) they won First Prizes in 1978 and 1981. In 1990 they attended the Glasgow International Contest (Scotland) and won the highest prize. In September 1993 they performed in Strasburg, having been invited by the European Parliament. In 1994 they took part in the Requena National Contest where they won First Prize with Honorable Mention. They won First Prize in the Honorary Division of the Valencia Contest in 1997 and 1999. In 2002 and 2004 they won First Prize with Honorable Mention in said contest and in 2007 they won First Prize, the Prize for the Best Performance of a piece by a Valencian Composer, and the Prize for the Best Band from the Autonomous Region of Valencia.

In addition to its first director, Antonio Chornet Font, many great professionals have led the band: Emilio Campos Campos, Pascual Sanchís Chapa, José Maria Machancoses, Julio Ribelles Brunet, Eduardo Cifre Gallego, Luis Sanjaime Meseguer, Cristóbal Soler Almudéver and Álvaro Albiach Fernández. The following teachers have also played an important role: Manuel Palau, José Maria Navarro, Ramón Corell, Lucas Conejero, Vicente Prats, Vicente Lillo, José Orti, Víctor Martín, José Maria Cervera Collado and Rafael Talens Pelló.

Salvador Sebastiá López has been the Band's Conductor since March 2001.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Salvador Sebastià López

Salvador Sebastià López was born in Burriana (Castellón) in 1972. He is the Orchestra teacher at the Castellón "Salvador Segui" Superior Conservatory of Music, and the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Cullera "Santa Cecila" Music Association.

He obtained seven higher diplomas at the Valencia "Joaquín Rodrigo" Superior Conservatory of Music, receiving the Extraordinary Composition Prize and 3 Commendations (for Clarinet, Counterpoint and Fugue and Conducting). He completed the master's degree in Musical Esthetics and Creativity run by the University of Valencia Philosophy Faculty. He studied direction with José Collado, E. Cifre, M. Galduf, M. Hernández Silva and Johannes Schaefli. With a grant from the Valencia Music Institute he directed the 2000 and 2001 closing ceremonies of the courses at the Sienna Accademia Chigiana taught by Gianluigi Gelmetti.

He has won first prize in international contests such as that organized by the "Ciutat d'Elx" Orchestra and was a finalist in the fifth edition of the Biennial Young Conductors Contest organized by the City of Granada Orchestra. In 2002, 2004 and 2007, with the Cullera "Santa Cecilia" Music Association Band, he won First Prize and Honorable Mention in the Honorary Division of the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia".

As a guest conductor he has led the following orchestras: West Bohemian Symphony (Czech Republic), Ramniccuválcea (Romania), RTV Búlgara, Clásica de México, Sinfónica de Castellón, "Collegium instrumentale", "Ciutat d'Elx", "Cervera Lloret", Neuquén Symphony Orchestra (Argentina), Symphony Orchestra of the Chieti Marrucino Theatre (Italy) and the City of Tainan Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan).

Among the soloists he has accompanied are Víctor Martín, Vasko Vassilev, Eric Terwilliger, Jesús Fuster and José Franch, Denis Azabagic, Carlos Bonell, José María Gallardo, José Luis Ruiz del Puerto and Rafael Aguirre.

He has conducted new operetta, opera and ballet productions, working with styles from the Baroque to those of the present day.

He has premiered orchestra works by Agustín Charles, José Vicente Egea, Ferrer Ferran, Teodoro Aparacio and José Manuel López López, and conducted the Spanish debut of 'Retablo Medieval' for organ and orchestra by the Mexican, Bernal Jiménez, with the organist Marisol Mendive. He has recorded with RTVE, Edivox IP Producciones, Audioart and ARS HARMONICA.
His composition, 'La leyenda de la Malinche' symphony no. 1 for band, sonata for tuba was published by Piles.

In September he was invited to conduct the Valencia Orchestra.