The Villarrobledo Municipal Wind Band was formed in 1932 under the direction of Gregorio Moya. It was the product of the merger of the "Tinajera" and "Clave" bands whose origins date back to 1866.

In the 145 years in which bands have been active in Villarrobledo, a great many directors have led them, dividing their time between directing the bands and the municipal music school. Currently the school has 400 students who form the following groups: the Youth Band, Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Plectrum Orchestra, Big Band and Choirs.

The Villarrobledo Band has performed in Guadalajara, Albacete, Cuenca, Toledo, Ciudad Real, Valencia, Madrid, Murcia and Córdoba, and has also carried out exchange visits with foreign bands such as the Belgian Peer Band. The Band has won prizes at provincial and regional contests in Albacete, Ciudad Real and Tomelloso. It has performed for RNE together with the Valencia Conservatory Mixed Voice Choir and took part in the "Gente Joven-TVE" y "Campo de Criptana" National Contests.

It performed Bizet's 'Carmen' in Carpio del Río (Córdoba) and premiered its own music show, 'Historia, Cultura y Vino' with band, choir, soloists and actors, in the Wine Festival organized by the Museum of Albacete and Teatro Circo.

It has given recitals with José Tamayo's "Solistas de la Zarzuela" and accompanied renowned local and national performers.

In 2007 the Band was named "Villarrobledo Citizen of the Year" for its career and artistic and musical contribution to the town. In 2009 it recorded its second CD, a compilation of pieces composed by the institution's directors.

Every year it organizes and takes part in the "Galardones de la Música" prizes and honors, the "Mes de la Música" Festival and the "Semana de Sta. Cecilia" festivities, in which choirs, bands, orchestras and soloists from all over Spain participate.

Currently the Band is made up of a young group of students and wind, string and percussion musicians, and is directed by Julián Lozano Pareja.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Julián Lozano Pareja

Julián Lozano Pareja was born in Villarrobledo and received his early musical tuition from the conductors Jerónimo García and Antonio Cuevas. He studied Sol-fa, Choral Singing and Saxophone in the Villarrobledo Municipal Music School.

He later went on to the Albacete Professional Conservatory where he studied Acoustics, History of Music and Art, Harmony, Counterpoint, Piano, Viola and Oboe. He has a degree in Oboe from the Alicante "Oscar Esplá" Conservatory. He has a master's degree in Band Conducting from the London Royal School of Music and a degree in Band Conducting from the Huelva Advanced Music School.

He furthered his training with teachers of such stature as Amando Blanquer, Ana Luisa Chova, José Ferrero, José Ortí and Ramón García i Soler. He has attended master classes taught by Johan de Meij, Jan van der Ros, Juan Vicente Mas Quiles, Ferrer Ferran, Andrés Valero and Ximo Cano.

He has studied Band Conducting with José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana, Jan Cober, Eugene Corporon, Enrique García Asensio, Evilasio Ventura, Henrie Adams and Rafael Sanz Espert. He has also studied Orchestra Conducting with Francisco Navarro, Manuel Hernández Silva and Juan Luís Martínez, and Choir Conducting with Inmaculada Arroyo and Juan Luís Martínez.

He has conducting different bands and music schools in Cuenca and Albacete and since 2007 he has been the Director of the Villarrobledo Municipal Band and Music School.