UNIÓ MUSICAL DE VILAFRANCA (Castellón)

Director:
PAU MONFORT PITARCH

Band Profile

The band began in 1928 under the baton of Royo. Three years later, Juan Eiroa became director and under his leadership the band organised many ambitious and lyrical performances.
After various successions, Agustín Espinosa directed the band from 1943 until 1963, with a brief interval under Eduardo Vila from 1948 to 1951. In 1963, the Union Musical contracted José Castelló as director - and during his leadership the band sometimes performed in public under the name 'Los Bohemios'.
José María Ferrer directed the band when it won second prize in the provincial competition of 1981.
The band incorporated as a musical association in 1992 and now boasts 285 members, with 50 musicians in the band; as well as a music school with 75 students and eight teachers. The band offers a wide programme of concerts, solo performances, chamber music, as well as exchanges and performances in other towns.
In 1998, the band won first prize in the third section of the provincial and regional competitions, as well as second prize in the third section of the Valencia International Music Band Contest. A year later, the band went on to win first prize and a special prize as the best band in the Comunidad Valenciana in the third section of the Valencia International Music Band Contest. In the year 2000, the band was invited by Radio Nacional de España to perform in the second cycle of concerts at the Palau de la Música in Valencia. In the same year, the band also won first prize in the third section of both the provincial and Valencian competitions.
In 2001, the band again won a first prize in the third section of the Valencia contest and was included in the double CD 'Suena la Banda' released by RTVE Música.
The band has appeared on another two CDs: 'Vilafranca 8 de Setembre'; and the 'The Lord of the Rings' symphony by Johan de Meij.

Director profile

Pau Montfort Pitarch was born in Vilafranca in 1967 and began his musical studies at the age of five with José Castelló, and his uncle Manolo Monfort. He joined the band of the Unión Musical de Vilafranca just two years later.
At 14, he began studying musical language and clarinet at the Conservatorio de Castellón. In 1987, he entered the Conservatorio Superior de Música in Valencia where he studied clarinet, piano, harmony, counterpoint, fugue, and composition. He went on to study directing and musical analysis under various well-known directors.
He has taught clarinet at various conservatories and secondary schools in Catalonia and the province of Castellon. He has also researched musical tradition in Vilafranca and the Comarca dels Ports.
He has written various pieces including the procession march 'Sant Roque' - dedicated to the patron saint of Vilafranca. He is a founder-member of the 'Cuarteto de Clarinetes de Vilafranca'.
Since 1988, he has been director of the band and teaches clarinet, musical theory, and harmony in the band's music school.