Centre Artístic Cultural "Verge de la Pau" d’Agost HISTORY OF THE BAND The Centre Artístic Cultural "Verge de la Pau" de Agost was founded on 23 February 1978. At the end of January 1979 the Wind Band made its debut with 27 musicians in a pasodoble concert which was directed by Ángel Castelló Martínez. Until late 1981, in what we could call its formative stage, the Band was directed by its founding teachers. In 1982, José Castelló Rizo was appointed as the Band's first principal conductor. At this time the Band had 30 musicians. In 1984 the baton passed to his brother, Manuel Castelló Rizo. During his time in the post the Band had around 70 musicians. The band has completed tours of Austria, Holland, Germany and France, as well as performing in various provinces in Spain. They have taken part in more than 50 contests, where they have won 25 first prizes including: First Prize in the "City of Cullera" Contest in 1997, First Prize with Honorable Mention in Division Two of the International Wind Band Contest "City of Valencia" in 1988 and 1997, and in Division Three in 2008. Also worthy of note are the First Prizes they won in the Alicante Provincial Contest in Division One in 1991 and 1993, in Division Two in 1985, 1989, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2013, and in Division Three in 2007 and 2008; and in the Valencia Regional Contest in 1991 and 2003. In the Elda Festive Music Contest they won First Prize in 1991, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2010. BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR José Vicente Algado ClimentJosé Vivente Algado Climent was born in 1981 and began studying music in the Puig Campana de Finestrat Music Center with his father. He continued his studies in the "José Pérez Barceló" Conservatory in Benidorm and the "Oscar Esplà" Conservatory in Alicante, where he completed his trumpet teaching studies.In 1996 he received a scholarship to study a summer course at the International Music Camp in Minot (USA). He began his conducting studies in 1999, attending numerous conducting courses with José R. Pascual, Frank de Vuyst and Cristóbal Soler. He studied composition with Joan Enric Canet (in the Alicante Superior Conservatory) and with Norman Milanes. He has a degree in Orchestra Conducting from the Murcia Superior Conservatory of Music, where he studied with César Álvarez and José Miguel Rodilla. He has conducted numerous ensembles, including: the Madrid Cathedral Symphonic Orchestra, the Band of the Puig Campana de Finestrat Music Center, the Lanjarón Band (Granada), the Municipal Band of "Los Palacios y Villafranca" (Seville), the Orchestra of the University of Valencia, the National Concert Band of Cuba, the Rundfunk-Blasorchester Leipzig (Germany), and the Symphonic Orchestra of the Murcia Superior Conservatory. He has been principal conductor of the Finestrat Choral Ensemble (1999-2005), "La Lira" Band of Monforte del Cid (2006-2007), the Band of the Cocentaina Ateneu Musical (2007-2009) and the Band of the Puig Campana de Finestrat Music Center (2005-2012). He currently teaches at the music schools of the Puig Campana de Finestrat Music Center and the Benidorm Unió Musical. He is also the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra and Youth Band of the Benidorm Unió Musical. |
