Asociación Musical "Lira Alcañizana" de Alcañiz

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Asociación Musical "Lira Alcañizana" was founded in October 1996. Its early activities included taking part in annual concerts, Easter concerts, local concerts, festivals, New Year's concerts, parades and processions.

Over the last eighteen years, the Band has taken part in two contests: the 9th NATIONAL WIND BAND CONTEST "VILLA DE LEGANES", in 1999, winning 2nd PRIZE in DIVISION ONE; and the 2nd NATIONAL WIND BAND CONTEST "CITY OF HUESCA", in 2005, winning 3rd PRIZE.

The Band has taken part in exchanges with bands from the Valencia Region and elsewhere in Spain, including the Roquetes Nou Barris Wind Band (Barcelona), La Marinense de Marines (Valencia), the Tirig Wind Band (Castellón), the Santa Magdalena de Pulpis Wind Band (Castellón), and La Alianza de Vinaròs Wind Band (Castellón).

In August 2008, the Band spent a week in the Black Forest region, where they gave concerts in several towns close to Freiburg.

The Band's work continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the incorporation of new, young musicians. Most of them come from the "Beginner's Music Group", where young musicians can learn how to play in a band and further their musical knowledge.

The Band's current director is Francisco Grau Pérez.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Francisco Grau Pérez

Francisco Grau Pérez was born in Yátova (Valencia) in 1971.

He holds a degree in Advanced Clarinet Teaching from the Valencia Superior Conservatory of Music. He also obtained a Master's in Secondary Education from the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya.

In 1996 he founded and became director of the "Lira Alcañizana" Wind Band, with which he won second prize at the Villa de Leganés International Wind Band Contest in 1999. He is currently leading this Band for a third, non-consecutive term.

He was the director of the Calanda music school and wind band (1993-2000), director of the Peñarroya de Tastavins music school and band (1997-2000), and has been guest director for bands such as the "Associació de Joves Musics" of Mollet del Vallés (Barcelona), and the Cretas Wind Band and Choir (Teruel).

In 2009 he founded and became Musical Director of the Bajo Aragón Chamber Orchestra (OCBA), giving concerts all over Aragón and in Germany (Berlin), leaving his post as director in 2012.

Having gained a music teaching position with the Castilla y León local government through public examinations, he has worked for the Aragón Department of Education as a training consultant for high school teachers. He is currently the Director of the "Río Guadalope" Adult Education Center in Alcañiz.