Centro Artístico Musical Santa Cecilia de Foios

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Centro Artístico Musical Santa Cecilia of Foios was founded on 19 September 1921. Its first director was Mariano Puig, who passed the baton to Amadeo Gascó, with whom the Band won first prize in the Requena Music Contest in 1929.

In 1931, Miguel Rodrigo Corell became the Band's first director from Foios. Under his baton, the Band won first prize at the Fallas Processional Music Contest various times.

His successor and son, Miguel Rodrigo Plasencia, won numerous prizes, including first prize in the 1961 edition of the Valencia Civil Wind Band Contest and first prize for the Best Conductor.

In 1981, Enrique Ros Sanlucas came into the post, winning the prize for the best procession in 1983 and first prize in the Civil Wind Band Contest "City of Cullera".

The Band's next director were Ramón Ramírez, who was followed by Manuel Enguídanos Cotanda, with whom the Band won first prize in Division One of the 1985 "City of Valencia" Wind Band Contest. The following director was José Domínguez Peñarrocha, who founded the Association's choir. He was succeeded by Josep Sanz i Biosca and Francisco Luis Brunet, with whom the Band took part in their first international exchanges.

In 2000, the Band's current director, Vicent Puchol, came into post.

In 2004, the Band won first prize in Division Two at the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia". In 2009 they won first prize and honorable mention in the International Villa de Altea Contest.

The Band has given concerts in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and Austria.

The Music Association has an orchestra, choir, youth band, youth orchestra and chamber groups, and currently has a music school with 200 students, supported by a large social club with more than 800 members.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Vicente Puchol Calvo

Vicente Puchol Calvo was born in Llíria. He began studying music at the Llíria "Banda Primitiva" music school, specializing in clarinet. He went on to advance his studies at the Valencia Superior Conservatory of Music.

In 1975, after passing public examinations, he became a clarinetist in the Seville Municipal Wind Band. He furthered his studies in the cello at the Seville Superior Conservatory of Music and, in 1977 he became first clarinet player in the Philharmonic Orchestra Betica of Seville, where two years later he gained a position as a cellist.

In 1985 he passed further public examinations to gain a special temporary teaching position at the Cordoba Superior Conservatory of Music.

He has conducted the bands of Fuente la Higuera, Jalance, and Caudete. With this last ensemble he won various prizes in national and international contests.

Since July 2002 he has been the director of the Band of the CENTRE ARTÍSTIC MUSICAL SANTA CECÍLIA OF FOIOS, with which he took part in the 2004 edition of the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia", winning first prize in Division Two. In 2009 he also won first prize and honorable mention in the Villa de Altea International Contest.

From 1997 to 2000 he taught courses in clarinet performance in Almassora (Castellón), as well as summer courses in Tales in 1998 and 1999, organized by the local town councils.