AGRUPACIÓ MUSICAL DE VETERANS DE LA RIBERA DEL XUQUER (Valencia)

Director:
RAFAEL DOMÉNECH VIVES

Band profile

The band began just seven years ago when retired musical aficionados from towns in the area of la Ribera, south of Valencia city, decided to start their own band. Most of the members are around 65, and were professional musicians with orchestras or town bands before retiring.
It has enjoyed tremendous success in Valencia and the rest of Spain - thanks to the support it receives from towns in the area.
Among the band's directors have appeared Francisco Grau Vegara, director of the band of the Spanish royal guard, and Enrique García Asensio, director of the orchestra of Radio-Televisión Española.

Director profile

Rafael Doménech Vives was born in L'Alcúdia, near Valencia, in 1974. He first studied with Amparo Madrid Manzaneque at the Conservatorio Profesional 'Mestre Vert' in Carcaixent - winning an extraordinary prize. He finished his advanced studies with the saxophone at the Conservatorio Superior de Música in Castellón under Juan Fernández Ferrándis. He is currently studying with Javier de la Vega.
He has taught at the Centro Profesional de Música in L'Alcúdia since 1994. He founded the saxophone group 'Vila de L'Alcúdia', and he is a member of a group of teachers that offer the national 'Manuel Celdrán' summer course.
He began his directing studies in 1996 with Rafael Sanz Espert. In the same year, he reorganised and led the 'La Filharmònica Alcudiana' youth band. He was named director of the Veteranos de la Ribera del Jucar in June 1998. In 2001, he performed with the band in the Valencia International Music Bands Contest.
He currently teaches and directs the Centro Profesional de Música 'L'Alcudia', and is sub-director of the 'La Filharmónica Alcudiana' symphony band, and director of the youth band.