The Symphonic Band of the town of Nocaima in Cundinamarca (Columbia) entered its first phase in July 1998 and its current phase in July 2005, during which it has focused on training new members and improving musical aspects such as intonation, assembly, balance and staging.

Representing Columbia, they were special guests at the Yamaha International Seminar for Bands in Bogota in June 2008.

They received an award in 2008 for the Best Musical Achievement in Music Schools from the National Ministry of Culture.

Their performances and prizes include the following:

• Best Regional Instrumentalist, Best Regional Conductor and Best Regional Children's Band, Gachancipa, 2005.
• Second place in the Cundinamarca Villeta Regional Wind Band Contest 2006 in the Children's Category. Here they won the chance to represent the region in the National Children's Wind Band Contest which was held in Caldas in 2007.
• First Place in the Salamina Caldas National Children's Wind Band Contest 2007. They also won the prize for the Best Conductor.
• First Place in the Cundinamarca Villeta Regional Wind Band Contest 2007, again receiving the prize for the Best Conductor and the most points across all the categories, thereby earning the chance to represent the Cundinamarca region in the Anapioma-Cundinamarca National Wind Band Contest 2007.
• First Place in the Anapioma-Cundinamarca National Wind Band Contest, November 2007, in the Youth Category.
• First Place in the Cundinamarca Villeta Regional Wind Band Contest 2008 in the Youth Category. They also won the prize for the Best Instrumentalist.
• First Place in the Paipa National Youth Wind Band Contest which was held from 2 to 5 October 2008 and where they won the prize for the Best Conductor.
• CUNDIMARCA REGIONAL CONTESTS: 2007, 2008 and 2009, First Prize with the highest number of points across all categories.
• Highest number of points for the performance of a new work and Best Instrumentalist at the San Pedro Valle National New Music Contest 2009.
• The highest Category A award for Musical Quality in the Villeta Regional Wind Band Contest 2009.
• First Place in the Cundinamarca Regional Contest, Adult Category, Villeta 2010.
• First Place in the Retiro Antioquia National Wind Band Contest, Guest Band Category, 2010.

They have completed regional and national tours in Columbia. The International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" 2011 is their first international engagement.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Jesús Orielso Santiago Jácome

Jesús Orielso Santiago Jácome began his musical studies in the Fine Arts Institute in Ocaña-Norte, Santander, Columbia while completing his secondary education. He then gained experience as a director and arranger for various bands in the region before entering the Industrial University of Santander to study for a master's degree in Music and from where he graduated cum laude with his thesis "Compendio para formación y creación de Bandas".

He has attended numerous workshops in vocal technique, music arranging, instrumental technique and direction.

• He has the title of Specialist in Symphony Orchestra Conducting from the Juan N. Corpos University Institute in Bogota (Columbia), where he also furthered his studies in applied harmony and composition.

His posts and prizes include:

• Clarinet workshop coordinator for the Batuta National Foundation.
• Director of the Polyphonic Choir of the Santo Tomas de Aquino University, Bucaramanga.
• Director of the Batuta and Batuta Youth Symphony Orchestras, Bucaramanga.
• Arranger and composer for bands, choirs and chamber ensembles.
• Teacher at the Santander Music Academy.
• Professor at Columbia Incca University, Bogota.
• Professor at Javeriana University, Bogota.
• In January 2000 he received the "LUIS CARLOS GALAN SARMIENTO" Order, the highest regional honor for cultural merit.
• In November 2001, 2002 and 2003 he received the Cultural Merit Award in recognition of his work with La Paz Colegio El Rosario Youth Band.
• First Prize for Arranger of the Best Version of the Compulsory Piece at the Paipa National Contest in 2001, 2009 and 2010.
• Best Band Director in the youth category at the Paipa Boyacá National Band Contest in 2003 and 2008.
• Best Director at the Salamina Caldas National Children's Wind Band Contest 2007.
• Best Conductor at the Cundinamarca Regional Wind Band Contest 2007.