Banda Corporació Musical de la Pobla de Vallbona

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Corporació Musical of La Pobla de Vallbona came into being in 1860 thanks to Juan Lázaro y Blasco, the secretary of the town council and the Santiago Apóstol Church organist.

A great music-lover, he came up with the idea of creating a local band. With this purpose, he taught sol-fa to young people in the town, to whom he passed on his enthusiasm for music. Four years later, on 2 February 1864, the "Corporació Musical de la Pobla de Vallbona" band was officially founded.

Over its long history, the Band have won various prizes, including:

• Llíria Band Contest 1891: first prize.
• Valencia Wind Band Contest 1916: first prize in Division Two.
• Valencia Wind Band Contest 1917: first prize in Division Two.
• Benaguasil Regional Band Contest 1976: first prize.
• Valencia Wind Band Contest 1987: first prize in Division Three and honorable mention.
• "City of Leganés" Contest 1988: first prize.
• 3rd "Castell de Benisanó" Wind Band Contest: second prize and first prize in the procession.
• International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" 2013: second prize in Division Two.

They have taken part in numerous festivals: Monserrat in 1974, Llíria in 1979, Valencia City Council in 1981, Benisanó in 1985, Paterna in 1988, Nules in 1991, Tobarra in 2001, Benaguasil 2003, and Albal 2012 and the First "City of Dúrcal" Contest (Granada).

Today the Corporació Musical is made up of the following groups:

• The Choir
• The Music School, which has 150 members
• The Instrumental Ensemble
• The Youth Band
• The Wind Band, conducted by Francisco Javier Castellano Gómez.

The current president of the Corporació Musical is Sebastià Llopis Chelet.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Francisco Javier Castellano Gómez

Francisco Javier Castellano Gomez was born in Benisanó in 1973. He began his studies in sol-fa, bass saxhorn and slide trombone in the Varas Llíria Unió Musical as a pupil of Rafael Tortajada Durá.

He continued his studies in the "Joaquín Rodrigo" Superior Conservatory in Valencia where he was taught by Joaquín Vidal. In the 1994-95 academic year he received his qualifications in Advanced Saxhorn Teaching, and in the 1995-96 academic year he obtained his qualifications in Advanced Slide Trombone Teaching, receiving the highest grades. In November 1995, after a unanimous decision by the tribunal, he was awarded the End of Course Prize.

Since October 1996 he has been the Saxhorn Soloist Assistant Teacher for the Valencia Municipal Band.

From 1993 to 2012 he directed the Cor Parroquial Santos Reyes of Benisanó. From March 2001 to December 2010 he was the director of the Cor Social of the Llíria Unió Musical.

From September 2008 to July 2011 he was Maestro-Director of the Wind Band of the Sociedad Musical "La Popular" of Pedralba.

Since September 2011 he has been the director of the Wind Band of the Corporació Musical of Pobla de Vallbona, with which he won second prize in Division Two at the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" in 2013.

He also directs the Wind Band of the Sociedad Musical "La Familiar" of Benisanó, a post he has held since September 2010. With his group he won first prize in the 2nd Valencia Provincial Wind Band Contest in 2011, first prize in the Villa de Aranda de Duero Contest in 2012, first prize in the Cullera National Cinema Music Contest in August 2014, and second prize in the Vila de Catarroja Wind Band Contest in March 2015.