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Sociedad Musical Lira Castellonera Villanueva de Castellón
HISTORY OF THE BAND
The Band of the Lira Castellonera Music Association from Villanueva de Castellón was first created in 1878. It was refounded in 1909 under the baton of Jaime Fayos Torres, who led the Band to some of its greatest achievements: they won various First Prizes in the Valencia Contest (1925, 1927 and 1945) and became of one the best bands in Spain. He was followed by Luis Ayllón, former director of the Valencia Municipal Band, who led the band for four years and with whom they won two First Prizes (in 1947 and 1949) and two Second Prizes (in 1948 and 1950) in the Valencia Contest.
The Band's conductors have included José María Alba Llàcer, Valentín Ruiz Gómez, Antonio Peinado, Francisco Hernández Guirado, Pablo Sánchez Torrella, Eugenio Peris Gómez, Francisco Fort Fenollosa, Nicanor Sanz Sifre, Francesc Perales Ferre, Teodoro Aparicio Barberán, Juan Pablo Hellín Chaparro and Carlos Revert Espí. The last time the Band took part in the Valencia Contest was with Carlos Revert Espí in 2002, when they won Second Prize in Division One. From 2004 to 2008, Alexis Calvo López was director. He kept the band going and public interest alive by organizing programs with varied themes and formats. Under his direction the Band took part in the opera Don Carlo by Verdi, directed by Lorin Maazel, in the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in 2007. The Band is currently directed by José Tello who, with tenacious enthusiasm, is leading the group to realize its full potential. Their performances in recent years include: the memorable concerts held in the Palau de la Música on 10 January 2010, 19 June 2011 and 8 January 2012, and the three concerts to celebrate the opening of the Rex Municipal Auditorium, performing pieces by Wagner, Moussorgsky, Prokofiev, Mahler and Stravinski, among others. Eduardo Cifre Gallego is their honorary director.
The Lira Castellonera has a significant social, cultural and humanistic function. The Band continues its tradition of performing at formal annual occasions and the most important events in the town's recent history. The Music Association also has a Youth Band, directed by Raúl Seguí, and the Filibert Estrela Orchestra, directed by Amparo Vidal. The Association's Music School has educated thousands of children and has been the town's best ambassador. Dozens of professional musicians, who began their careers in the Lira Castellonera, now perform in the best bands and orchestras in the country.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR
José Tello Espert
José Tello Espert was born in Buñol and began studying music at the local "La Armónica" Music Education Centre. He continued his studies in the conservatories of Buñol, Valencia and Madrid, where he received his Advanced Clarinet Teacher qualifications.
He studied Harmony, Counterpoint, Schenkerian Analysis and Music Computing. He is the founding director of the orchestra of the Superior Music School of Catalonia (ESMUC) with Salvador Brotons.
He attended various courses and master classes with internationally renowned teachers such as Gregory Fritze, Ray Cramer and Tom Verrier. He also attended Vocal Conducting courses at the Royal Academy of Music in London, taught by Paul Brough.
He has taught at several music schools and the Buñol Professional Conservatory of Music.
From 1985 to 1991 he was a teacher at the Municipal Music Academy in Cuenca and the clarinet soloist and assistant director of the Cuenca Municipal Band. In 1991 he became a clarinet teacher for the Valencia Municipal Band, gaining the post through public examinations.
From 1993 to 1997 he directed the CIM Santa Cecilia from Tátova, and from 1998 to 2007 he directed the "La Paz" Music Association from Siete Aguas, with which he won various First Prizes and Honorable Mentions in the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" and at the WMC in Kerkrade. He also won the prize for the best director, awarded by Maestro Enrique García Asensio in the 2007 Minglanilla Contest (Cuenca).
He has recorded numerous CDs with the Audioart label and has also collaborated with the Belgian label, Hafabra.
On several occasions he has performed as guest conductor for the Buñol “La Armónica” CIM and worked as a clarinet teacher in the Medellín Music Schools Network (Columbia).
Since May 2009 he has been the director and maestro of the Lira Castellonera. |
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