Societat Artístico Musical de Benifaió HISTORY OF THE BAND It is difficult to determine exactly when the first band was formed in Benifaió. Few records from before the Civil War still exist and the information that is available is confused. For example, it is known that in the nineteenth century there were some bands which disappeared after a short time. There are records of a music group called "Filarmónica de Benifaió de Espioca". There is also a music magazine which was published in Barcelona in 1900, "La Música Ilustrada", which refers to the Benifaió Band. At the start of the twentieth century, the Band became known as the "Lira de Benifaió de Espioca". In 1907 "La Primitiva de Benifaió de Espioca" was created. Building on these foundations, the current Benifaió Sociedad Artística Musical de Benifaió was established on 17 June 1926. Throughout its long history the Band has taken part in numerous contests, such as the Valencia Fair, the City of Valencia, the Valencia Regional Contest, and the contests of Játiva, Carcaixent, Altea, Gandía, and Cullera, where they have always enjoyed significant success. The Association, its conductors and musicians, have created a school which has given the Band its characteristic and high quality sound and approach to performance. The Band has been conducted by: Bernabé Sanchis Porta (1927-29), Salvador Albarracín (1929-33), Domingo Escrivá Campos (1934-48), Jesús Campos (1948-53), José Mª Cervera Pérez (1953-71), Salvador Chuliá (1969-71, Francisco Rosa (1972-73), Bernardo Adam Ferrero (1974-82), Ramón Cavero Rioja (1983-90 and 1993-97), Ramón Ramos (1987), Francisco Marino Cabo (1990-91), Miguel Almarche (1991-93), José Manuel Miñana (1997-2001), Azael Tormo Muñoz (2002-05), José L. Masó (2005-09), Jaume Casas Plà (2009-12) and Ildefonso Martos (2012). The Band is currently conducted by Enrique Soler y Navarro. Today the Music Association has 220 members. The Band is made up of 80 musicians, some of whom are members of the Valencia Region Band Federation. BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR Enrique Soler NavarroEnrique Soler Navarro was born on 15 July 977 in Albaida (Valencia) where he began studying clarinet and music theory in the "Banda Primitiva de Albaida". He went on to study at the "Melcior Gomis" Conservatory in Ontinyent, graduating with the highest marks, and the Superior Conservatory of Music in Valencia, where he specialized in clarinet and conducting and furthered his knowledge in composition, harmony, orchestration, piano and music analysis.In 2008 he was selected to study for a master's in orchestra direction with the Orchestra of the University of Valencia. He is currently the director of the Benifaió Sociedad Artística Musical. He is also a member of the National Association of Band Conductors. He has imparted numerous courses in music teaching for the ACADE Foundation and the University of Valencia. |
