Societat Musical de Banyeres de Mariola
HISTORY OF THE BAND
The Banyeres de Mariola Music Association (L'Alcoià, Alicante) was founded in 1974. Its first director was José Mª Vicedo, who also created the Music School.
In 1977, José Miguel del Valle took over the post of director and the musical activity of the Association increased along with its participation in festivals and contests.
From 1987 to 1991 the Band was directed by Gregorio Ballester and José Molina Rubio and the Music School went from strength to strength.
In 1992, Juan Iznardo Colom became director and ushered in a period of artistic improvement and CD recordings. In January 2001 the baton was passed to Diego Niñerola Esteve.
The Band's activities include their participation in the Teruel Provincial Wind Band Summit, held in Alcorisa (1996). They also performed as part of the Valencia Palau de la Música band program (1998 and 2000) and took part in a new broadcast of the RTVE "Pentagrama" television show in the Valencia Region (2000).
The Band have taken part in many contests and won several prizes, including Second Prize (1979) and First Prize (1994) in the Alicante Provincial Contest, and First Prize in Division Three of the 1998 International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia". The last two of these awards were won under the direction of Juan Iznardo.
On 29 June 2001 and under the direction of Diego Niñerola, the Band won First Prize and Honorable Mention in Division Three of the Valencia International Contest.
From September 2002 to July 2004, Juan Iznardo returned to direct the Band. He was followed by Rafael García Vidal, who still directs the Band today, with Miquel Payá Molina as assistant director.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR
Rafael García Vidal
Rafael García Vidal was born in Alfarrasí (Valencia) and began studying music in his home town. He later became a member of the Instructive Wind Band.
He completed his Advanced Diploma studies in Clarinet in the Alicante "Oscar Esplà" Superior Conservatory of Music where, in the 2001/02 academic year, he received the title of Advanced Clarinet Teacher and "honorable mention" in the results of the Extraordinary Chamber Music Prize. In June 2003 he finished his Band Direction studies with José R. Pascual Vilaplana. He then went to the "Instituto Superiore Europeo Bandistico" in Trento (Italy), where in the 2006/07 academic year he received his advanced qualifications in Band Direction, which he studied with Carlo Pirola, Felix Hauswrith and Jan Cober.
He has been a guest director for various Spanish and foreign ensembles such as the "Ephonia" chamber choir, the Atzeneta de Albaida "Unión Musical", the Fontanars dels Alforins "Unión Musical", la Pobla del Duc "Unió Musical", the AMCE Santa Cecilia from Elda, the Lira Carcaixentina, the Banda Sociale di Aldeno (Italy), the Barcelona Municipal Band and Rundfunk-Blasorchester from Leipzig (Germany). As principal conductor he directed the "Veus d'Alfarrasí" choir, the Montitxelvo "Unión Musical" and the Aldaya "Unión Musical".
He is currently studying Orchestra Direction in the Valencia "Joaquín Rodrigo" Superior Conservatory of Music. He is also a member of the "Filharmonia" wind orchestra and principal conductor of the Banyeres de Mariola Music Association and the Muro Music Association. |
