BANDA SIMFÒNICA DE LA SOCIETAT MUSICAL D'ALZIRA (Valencia)

Director:
ÁNGEL CRESPO

Band profile

The band lavishes special attention on its music school and has created its own symphony band, youth band, chamber group, and choir.
The success of the band is closely linked to the Valencia International Music Bands Contest. In 1972 and 1974 the band won second prize, in 1975 it won first prize in the first section, and in 1979 and 1983 it won first prize in special section B - and then second and third prizes in special section A. Director Francisco Hernández was given an honorable mention. With Ramón Herrero García as director, the band participated in the special section in 1988 and won second prize. Ángel Crespo García led the band to win first prize and an honorable mention in the special section in 1994. Six years later in 2000, the band won first prize in the honor section together with the bands of Tavernes de Valldigna and the Unión Musical de Llíria.
The band won two first prizes and a gold medal in the 1978 Kerkade International Bands Contest. Nineteen years later and this time in the top category, it won first prize with distinction in the concert category and first prize and gold medal in the marching category.
The band has recorded various CDs including 'Fiesta Española' released by Editorial Piles, and 'Plaza Mayor' released by RTVE.
The band also won first prize in the XVII national competition in Campo de Criptana in Ciudad Real.

Director profile

Ángel Crespo was born in Picassent (Valencia) in 1965, and began his studies in the local musical association - where he would later teach and direct the youth band. He continued his studies in clarinet at the Valencia conservatory under Luís Blanes.
He is mostly self-taught but he has taken various master classes in directing and composition - including courses with Miguel Angel Gómez Martínez at the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares.
He has been invited to direct various bands and orchestras in the Valencian region. He directed the Banda del Centro Artístico Musical de Moncada for five years. He founded the 'Mestre Palau' study centre, and directs the Unión Protectora Musical de Vallada band and the Constantino Torregrosa music school. Since 1992, he has also directed the Alzira band, orchestra, and school.
Ángel Crespo has won various awards from the provincial and regional governments, as well as the organizers of the contests in Leganés, Altea, Kerkrade in Holland, as well as the Valencia International Music Bands Contest. He has prepared several transcriptions for bands, and has published a study about composers from his hometown. He has premiered various pieces by Valencian composers and recorded several CDs.