Societat Musical Benirredrà

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Benirredrà Music Association Wind Band was founded in 1996, the same year as the Association's music school, which was the source of the Band's musicians.

The Band had its official debut on 28 October 2000 under the baton of Remigi Morant Navasquillo. All the Band's musicians have trained at the Benirredrà Music School, and many of them continue their studies at various conservatories. Since its debut, both the Band's membership and the quality of its performances have steadily increased.

The Band has taken part in numerous events and festivals, including concerts in Laval (France) and Innsbruck (Austria). It has also participated in the Valencia "Bienal de las Artes" and the inauguration of the Palau de les Arts.

Since its foundation the Band has taken part in several exchanges locally, at a provincial level and with groups from all over Spain.

In 2006 the Band entered a new phase in its development under the leadership of José Vercher Blasco, who has used his experience to increase quality and musical growth, motivating both the musicians and the whole Association to take on new challenges.

In June 2009, the Band performed all the Gandia Easter processional marches together in one concert for the first time. They later recorded a CD of these pieces.

In 2010 the Band celebrated its tenth anniversary by giving a concert in the Palau de la Música in Valencia.

Despite its relatively short history, the Band has already won prizes, including second prize in the El Verger Band Contest (Alicante, 2009) and second prize in Division Three of the Valencia Provincial Wind Band Contest in 2011.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

José Vercher Blasco

José Vercher Blasco was born in Gandia, where he was taught music at the San Francesc de Borja Music Association by Elia Blasco. He continued his training at the "Mestre Vert" Conservatory in Carcaixent, where he completed his intermediary studies in clarinet, before going on to finish his advanced studies at the "Oscar Esplá" Superior Conservatory in Alicante.

His first band conducting teacher was Miguel Vercher Talens, and later he studied with José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana in the Vall d'Albaida Music School, where he obtained his Diploma in Band Conducting. He has attended master classes in conducting with renowned maestros and conductors.

He has also taken courses in music computing, teaching, composing and arranging for school groups and piano.

He has taught clarinet in the Beniopa, Potríes and Gandía music schools. He has also worked as a temporary high school teacher for the Regional Ministry of Education.

He was the founding director of the Sant Francesc de Borja Youth Band of Gandía, and director of the Sant Blai de Potries Choir. He was also director of the music school and band of La Lira de Alfaz del Pi Music Association. With this group he won first prize and honorable mention in the Alicante Provincial Wind Band Contest, and second prize in the Valencia Regional Wind Band Contest in 2006, as well as recording the CD, "25 aniversario". In 2010 the Safor-Valldigna Federation of Music Associations awarded him the Hermes Prize for conducting.

He was principal conductor of the "San Francesc de Borja" Symphony Orchestra of Gandía, and is currently the director of the Benirredrà Music Association Wind Band, with which he won second prize at the Valencia Provincial Band Contest in 2011.