Ateneu Musical I Cultural de Albalat de La Ribera

HISTORY OF THE BAND

Exactly when the Alabat de la Ribera Band was founded is unknown, but existing documents allow its creation to be traced to the decade 1870-1880. From 1943 the group gained its independence from the town council and constituted itself as the Music and Cultural Association, so beginning a second stage in its history. Particularly notable in this new period is the First Prize that the Band won in the 1945 Alicante Band Contest and the First Prize they received at the 1952 Sueca Pasodoble Contest.

In 1976, Vicente Granell Alonso became director of the Band. With this director the band received Second Prize in Division Two of the 1980 Valencia Band Contest, and in 1982 they won Second Prize in Division Three and the Ministry of Culture Prize for the best performance of the free choice piece.

In 1994 the baton was passed to Josep Escandell i Vila. Under his leadership the Band won several prizes in the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia". However, their performance in 2001 is particularly noteworthy because they won First Prize and Honorable Mention with the maximum number of points possible. With this director the Band also recorded two CDs in 2000 and 2002.

The Band has also given various concerts abroad. In 1987 they travelled to Germany to take part in Eurotreff. They have also given numerous concerts in France, in towns such as Le Havre, Montchanin, Bergerac and Mozac.

In 2009, with Maestro Saül Gómez Soler, the Band won Second Prize in Division One of the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia". The Band currently has more than a hundred musicians and a considerable number of students in its Music School.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Saül Gómez Soler

Saül Gómez Soler was born in Ontinyent in 1982. He is an Advanced Music Teacher and has a degree in Percussion and Composition from the Valencia "Joaquin Rodrigo" Superior Conservatory of Music, where he received the final grade of "Excellent". He also has a degree in Orchestra Direction from the Barcelona Liceo Superior Conservatory of Music.

He studied Band Direction in the ISEB in Trento (Italy) with Jean Coober, Felix Hauswit and Carlo Pirola.

He has directed various bands both in Spain and in different parts of Europe (Salzburg, Innsbruck, Prague, Berlin and Munich, among others). He has directed the "Nou Orfeó de Ontinyent", the "Agrupación Coral de Benidorm", the "Unió Musical" from Aielo de Malferit, "La Colla d'Ontinyent", the "Xafigà de Muro" and the "Centre Musical Primitiva" from Albaida, with which he won various contests.

He is currently the director of the Oliva "Associació Artístico Musical", the Albalat de la Ribera "Ateneu Musical" and the Atrium Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches Orchestra as a member of the Valencia Regional Government teaching corps for music and the scenic arts.

He has composed various works for band, orchestra and instrumental groups. He has also written music for ballet and chamber music. His works have been used by various theater groups in their shows. Last March, his work "Lenguas Muertas" was premiered in the Monumental Theater in Madrid. This was a commission by the RTVE Orchestra as part of their 2012 cycle of chamber music.

He has been a jury member in numerous composition and performance contests and his music has been recorded to CD by various ensembles.

In 2003 he received the "Argelaga" prize for the person with the most distinguished career, a prize awarded by the journalists of Vall d'Albaida. In 2007 he was awarded the Euterpe prize from the FSMCV for the best composition for his work "Adalil". In 2008 he won the Joan Baptista Basset prize for contribution to culture, awarded by ACPV. In 2009 he won the L'Olleria Francesc Cerdà prize for Moors and Christians music for his compostition "Inarpa" and the audience prize in the same contest.

Recently he won First Prize and Honorable Mention in the "Poble de Muro" Composition Contest and First Prize and Honorable Mention in the Altea International Band Contest. He is a recipient of the Silver Insignia from Ontinyent C.F. and the Ontinyent Santísimo Cristo de la Agonia Festival Association. In 2012 he received an Honorable Mention from Ontinyent Town Council.