SOCIETAT INSTRUCTIVA UNIÓ MUSICAL DE MONSERRAT (Valencia)

Director:
JOSE ONOFRE DIEZ MONZO

Band profile

The band was formed as the municipal band in 1925 when the town's two existing bands joined forces. Seven years later, the band formed its own musical society.
From the beginning, the band participated in numerous regional competitions such as Valencia, Moncada, Alcoy, Segorbe, and Cullera. Band directors have included: Emilio Campos Campos, Juan Evangelista Martínez, Vicente Alonso Joaquín Vidal, Daniel Martínez Marin, José Civera and Esteban Esteve.
Under its current director, José Onofre Díez Monzó, the band has achieved its most important prizes:
1989: first prize in the provincial competition and first prize in the first section of the regional competition.
1990: First prize with honorable mention in the first section of the Valencia International Music Bands Contest.
1993 and 1998: First prize with honorable mention in the special section of the Valencia International Music Bands Contest.
The band currently boasts 140 members and around 100 children are currently studying in its school, youth band, and orchestra.

Director profile

Jose Onofre Diez Monzo was born in Quart de Poblet (Valencia) and began his studies with 'La Amistad' band under Jose Sanmartín and Esteban Esteve. He went on to study at the Valencia conservatory with José María Cervera Lloret, Miguel Lafuente, and Vicente Asensi.
He has directed the following bands: the 'Ateneo Musical del Puerto' of Valencia, the 'Sociedad Artístico Musical' of Picassent, the 'Sociedad Musical de Vallada', the 'Sociedad Centro Instructivo Cultural' of Benaguacil, the 'Orquesta de la Rioja' and the 'Joven Orquesta de la Sociedad Artístico Musical de Picassent'.
Since 1987, he has directed the Unión Musical de Monserrat. He is director-founder of the youth orchestra. He also teaches music in a secondary school and is a member of the International Society for Music Education.