Banda Municipal de Música d’Alcanar HISTORY OF THE BAND The Alcanar Municipal Wind Band dates back to 3 June 1845; as she passed through Alcanar on this date, Queen Isabel II gave local sculptor Miquel Gisbert some musical instruments in thanks for his work in the Benifassà monastery. The Band is one of the oldest in Catalonia. Throughout its long history the band has been led by numerous maestros-directors including: the Gisbert family, Bautista Ferrer and Francisco Frías. In more recent times, the Band has been conducted by Julio Castell, José Quiles Simón and Rafael Bardissa, who have preceded the current director, Pascual Arnau Beltrán. Every year the Band organizes a spring concert, a summer concert, a band festival in October, and a Saint Cecilia concert. It also participates in exchanges with other music groups in Catalonia, Spain and abroad. These exchanges include those with the "Complesso Bandístico Fornovese de Fornovo di Taro" (Italy, 1989), the "Sociedade Filarmonica Matos Galamba" from Alcácer do Sal (Portugal, 2003), or that with the "Banda de Música la Tafallesa" (Navarre, 2007). Also worthy of note is the concert they gave in the Auditorio Pau Casals in El Vendrell (2006), the concert in the Palau de Congressos in Peñíscola (2009) and those given in the Auditorio in Barcelona (2006 and 2012). In 2009 the bank took part in the International Wind Band Contest "Vila de la Sénia", where they won Second Prize in Division Two. The band is also an active member of the Catalan Federation of Music Societies, taking part in its summits and other events. Currently, the Municipal Band is made up of 90 musicians. The association also has a Youth Band, made up of 70 musicians, and a Children's Band, made up of 30 musicians. These groups are the product of the classes given at the Alcanar Municipal Music School. BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR Pascual Arnau BeltranPascual Arnau Beltran was born in Sant Jordi in 1967. He began studying music when he was 7 at the Vinaròs Sociedad Musical La Alianza, with the director, Jaime Montes.He continued his studies in the Castellón Conservatory of Music where he obtained his teaching qualifications. He later went on to study at the Barcelona Superior Conservatory where he graduated in clarinet. He studied harmony, counterpoint and fugue with José Castillo, María Teresa Agut, Guinovart and José Quiles. He completed postgraduate studies in music teaching at Barcelona Polytechnic University and a degree in music teaching at Jaume I University in Castellón. He has studied orchestra and band conducting with José María Cervera, García Asensio, Miguel Rodrigo Tamarit, José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana, Miguel Rodrigo, Johan De Meij, Jan Cober and Ferrer Ferran. The following professional achievements are particularly worthy of note:
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