Banda Sinfónica de la Casa de la Comunitat Valenciana en Navarra


Network Percusion Ensemble

HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Symphonic Band of the Casa de la Comunidad Valenciana in Navarra was founded in September 2001 thanks to the efforts of a number of professional musicians originally from Valencia, now living in Navarre, who wanted to give Pamplona a wind band made up of young people to whom they could pass on Valencian wind band traditions and values.

From its foundation in 2001 until 2004, the Band was conducted by Francisco Javier Inglés, with whom it won the First Navarre Wind Band Contest and the Mariano Martínez Prize for the best youth performance from the Valencia Regional Government.

Juan José Arraiza was the Band's director from September 2004 to 2008. During this time the Band performed in Gavà (Barcelona) twice, and in Zaragoza and Soulz (France). From 2008 to 2011, Juan José Torres conducted the Band. During his time in the post, the Band's trips included visits to Milagro, Riba-Roja del Túria (Valencia) and Castellón de la Plana.

The current Principal Conductor, Adrià Sánchez Castelló, has been in the post since September 2011. Under his leadership, the Band has taken part in the Belfort International Festival (France), the "Músicas de Domingo" concert season organized by the Pamplona City Council, and the "Música de Bandas" segment of the official program of the San Fermin festival, giving concerts in Olite, Logroño, Caparroso, Barañain and Artica.

The Band's objectives include encouraging the composition of music for wind bands, and renowned composers have already dedicated works to the band.

The Band is currently made up of 60 musicians with an average age of 20; its youth gives the Band a vitality and enthusiasm which is the hallmark of its performances.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Adrià Sánchez Castelló

Adrià Sánchez Castelló was born in Valencia in 1983 and began studying the saxophone in the music school of the Burjassot Agrupación Musical "Los Silos" (Valencia) with José Francisco Muñoz.

He went on to study at the Valencia Professional Conservatory of Music, starting there when he was 15 years old. In 2002, along with three other saxophonists, he formed the "Quatre en Ú" saxophone quartet which has worked with the Valencia Provincial Government as part of their SARC cultural program.

In 2005 he began studying saxophone teaching at the Navarre Superior Conservatory of Music with Javier Garayalde. He later studied for a master's in music education at the Public University of Navarre.

He has attended various saxophone master classes with teachers such as Manuel Miján, Andrés Gomis and David Ruiz; and conducting courses with Enrique García Asensio and José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana. He has worked with several orchestras, including the Navarre Symphony Orchestra and the Pamplona "Sinfonietta Academica" Orchestra. He also plays regularly with the Pamplona Asociación Cultural Banda de Música "La Pamplonesa" under the baton of J. Vicent Egea.

He is currently teaching saxophone and band in different music schools in Pamplona. Since 2002 he has been Principal Conductor of the Symphonic Band of the Casa de la Comunidad Valenciana in Navarre.