Ensemble de Dolçaina i Percussió de la Ciutat de València

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The City of Valencia Dulzaina and Percussion Ensemble is an initiative of the City of Valencia School of traditional music. It was created to form a stable group to represent traditional Valencian music, innovate within the genre and become its leading exponent.

The Ensemble is made up of renowned and highly-qualified traditional music performers who passed a selection process to become members of the group.

The mission of the City of Valencia School of Traditional Music Cultural Association is the study, promotion and diffusion of Valencian culture and traditional music. Consequently, and to guarantee the Ensemble's longevity and level of excellence, the School has four other instrumental groups and a chamber group in which students further their training.

The Ensemble had its debut in Valencian society in the Ateneo Mercantil of Valencia during the 3rd Festival Music Concert, organized by the Valencian Moors and Christians Federation to announce the captains of the 2014 Moors and Christians Festivities in the City of Valencia. For this concert, the Ensemble collaborated with guest directors Antoni de la Asunción Andrés and Francisco Valor Llorens, as well as with the maestro José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana, who conducted the closing piece.

In September 2014, the City of Valencia Dulzaina and Percussion Ensemble were a pilot group in the 1^st City of Valencia Music Direction Conference.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Fernando Cantó Salinas

Fernando Cantó Salinas studied dulzaina with the maestro Xavier Richart in the Valencia Municipal Dulzaina School; he also trained with the maestro Alejandro Blay. He has a degree in Traditional and Popular Music Instruments from the Superior Music School of Catalonia.

He has completed courses in ensemble conducting with J. R. Pascual Vilaplana, and choir conducting with Josep Ramón Gil-Tárrega and Josep Robert Sellés. He was the Director of Studies and taught the dulzaina, tabal (small drum), chamber music, band and choir at the "Mestre Molins" Professional Center of Music in Quart de Poblet.

He has also taught dulzaina and band in the Professional Music Center in l´Alcúdia. He has conducted numerous dulzaina and percussion group, including "El Regall" of Ontinyent and "Ruzafa-fa" of Valencia.

He is currently Director of Studies at the City of Valencia School of Traditional Music and also teaches the dulzaina, pan flute, band and choir. As a performer he is a member of the "Dolçabalocchi" trio and "La Tilera" chamber group, which he also directs.

As a soloist he has worked with: the Unió Musical of Llíria, the Wind Band of the Army Task Force, the Alaquàs Wind Band, the FECOCOVA choir, "Obrint Pas", "El Ball de Sant Vito" Theater Company, as well as the gaita player, Carlos Núñez.

In 2001 he won first prize in the 3rd "Ciutat d'Algemesí" Composition Contest for dulzaina and percussion. He composed the soundtrack for the short film, "Diarios del último día", a finalist in the 31^st Valencia Film Festival.

He has taken part in recordings, including the CDs, "Nadal III", "De la festa la vespra" and "Dolçabalocchi".