Agrupación Musical "Santa Cecilia" de Calzada de Calatrava

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The "Santa Cecilia" Music Society was founded in 1912 as an initiative of the Calzada de Calatrava town council (Ciudad Real).

Various conductors have led the Band, including Carmelo Ortiz López who, during his 40 years in post, increased both the band's membership and its artistic standards.

The Band are a highly active group and act as an important social, cultural and (of course) musical agent, both locally and nationally, taking part in various summits, festivals and music contests.

In July 2014, the Band won second prize in the First Regional Wind Band Contest "Mota del Cuervo" (Cuenca).

The "Santa Cecilia" Music Society is currently made up of 84 musicians.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

José Carlos Gómez Mansilla

José Carlos Gómez Mansilla was born in Ciudad Real in 1980. He began studying music in the "Marcos Redondo" Professional Conservatory of Music in Ciudad Real. He obtained his Degree in Music, specializing in the Clarinet, from the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music.

He furthered his studies in the clarinet with Enrique Pérez Piquer, Máximo Muñoz Pavón, Florián Popa, Alberto Rodríguez, Lander Ruiz, Ramón Barona, José Vicente Herrera, Vicente LLorens, Silvie Hue, Julius Klein and Philippe le Loup, among others.

He studied Wind Band Direction with the prestigious director and composer, Ferrer Ferrán, in the "Allegro" Music School (Valencia) and with Andrés Valero Castells.

He is currently the Director of the "Carmelo Ortiz" Music School in Calzada de Calatrava (Ciudad Real), where he teaches musical expression, clarinet and conducts the Youth Band.

He also plays bass clarinet in the Ciudad Real Symphony Orchestra (CROS) and is a member of the "Clartet" Clarinet Quartet.

Since January 2008 he has been the Principal Conductor of the "Santa Cecilia" Music Society of Calzada de Calatrava (Ciudad Real).