Sociedad Musical Instructiva Santa Cecilia de Cullera

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Cullera "Santa Cecilia" Band was founded in 1907 by Maestro Antonio Chornet Font. The Music Association was constituted in 1909.

In 1933 they took part in the Narbonne International Contest (France) where they won three first prizes. In 1950 they returned to the Narbonne Contest and received the highest score of all the participating bands. They won second prize in the Special Division of the Valencia Contest in 1954, and third prize in 1955.

They won further prizes in the Valencia Contest in 1984, 1989 and 1992, which were accompanied by honorable mentions. They won first prizes in Kerkrade (Holland) in 1978 and 1981. In 1990 they attended the Glasgow International Contest and won first prize.

In 1994 they took part in the Requena National Contest where they won first prize with honorable mention. They also 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 the Valencia Contest, and when they returned to the Contest in 2007 they won first prize and the prize for the best band from the Autonomous Region of Valencia.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Carlos Garcés

Is Principal Conductor of the Wind Band and Symphony Orchestra of the Cullera SMI Santa Cecilia. He is also Principal Conductor of the Soria "Lira Numantina" Orchestra and the "Ciudad de Palencia" Orchestra.

He studied orchestra conducting at the Basque Country MUSIKENE Superior Conservatory of Music with Enrique García Asensio and Manel Valdivieso. He received a scholarship to study for a year in the Bologna Conservatory (Italy) with Luciano Acocella. He graduated with a Master's in Orchestra Conducting (first class) from the Rotterdam CODARTS Conservatory.

The ensembles he has conducted include: the Orquesta de Valencia, the Orquesta de Euskadi, the Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid in a production in the Teatro de la Zarzuela, the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Banda Municipal de Soria, the Banda "La Pamplonesa", and the Orquesta de la Ópera de Rouen.

In 2014 the Lucerne Festival Orchestra accepted his application to study with Maestro Bernard Haitink.

In 2015 he recorded his first CD which included Symphony no. 1 "NVMANTIA" by J. Vicent Egea, with the Soria "Lira Numantina" Orchestra. His upcoming engagements include conducting the Symphony Orchestras of Castille and León.