The Nova d'Alcoi Music Association was founded in 1842 under the name of the New Philharmonic Association. Its first director was Jordi Verdú who, in 1845, passed the baton to Vicente Ibáñez who, one year later, would found the religious music chapel in the heart of this Alcoi institution. At this time, and under the patronage of Carlos Corbí Gisbert, the Mayor of Alcoi, and Francisco Blances Moltó, an orchestra was created from the band's members, thereby completing the chapel performances. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the band was conducted by musicians such as Rafael Valor, Ramón Pastor and Rafael Valor Andrés, who saved the Band from various problems during the thirty-five years they led it. In 1893 the Ninth and Third Bands merged under the name "Nueva del Iris".

In the twentieth century the Band's conductors included Julio Laporta Hellín, Gonzalo Barrachina Sellés, Evaristo Pérez Monllor and José Carbonell García, a composer from Alcoi with whom the Band travelled to Oran in Algeria. The visit to this African country was one of the most important events in the history of the Nova.

As the century marched on the Band continued to grow under the leadership of conductors such as José Almería Molina, José Francisco Molina and Pedro Lara Navarrete, and today's director, Joan Doménech Calaforra.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, the Band celebrated its 150th anniversary by attending various contests such as: the XXXIII Villa de Altea International Contest (2004) where they won Second Prize in Division One; two editions of the Elda contest, in 1994 they won Second Prize and in 1996 First Prize; and the Band's latest contest was the IV National Moors and Christians Music Contest "City of Villena" where they won Second Prize.

The Nova has recorded seven CDs including 'La Nostra Música' which commemorates their 150th anniversary, and in November 2010 the Band published their book 'La Nova desde 1842. Historia de una banda de música alcoyana', which was written by José María Valls Satorres.

Since 1996 the Band has gradually extended its activities by forming a Youth Band, various chamber ensembles and developing a music academy which offers more than 14 specialties, including string instruments, and which has close to one hundred and twenty pupils. Currently the Nova d'Alcoi Music Association Band is made up of about 110 musicians who play all the instruments pertinent to a symphonic ensemble.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Joan Doménech

Joan Doménech was born in the Valencian town of Benaguasil. He began studying music when he was 8 years old in the Music Association of his home town. He went on to study at the Valencia Conservatory of Music, where he was taught by Maestro Lucas Conejero and he completed his diploma with honors. He then went to the Alicante "Òscar Esplá" Conservatory where he received his higher diploma. In 1984 he gained, through public examination, the position of clarinet soloist in the Alicante Municipal Band, a post he holds to this day. After being guest conductor of the band for a year, in January 2009 he became Principal Conductor of the Nova d'Alcoi.