The A.M. Lira Alcañizana was founded in October 1996 by a group of musicians from Alcañiz. With difficult beginnings financially, but with great musical enthusiasm, already in 1999 we participated at the Certamen de bandas Villa de Leganés, obtaining second prize.

At present, our group is conducted by Mr. Francisco Grau Pérez with the assistant direction by Ms. Carmen José Ariño Sangüesa.

In these 26 years of history of the A.M. LIRA ALCAÑIZANA there are performances and moments to which we are more fond. Either for the effort made or for the pride they have given us. These are the following:

• • In June 1999 we obtained the Second Prize in the First Division in the Certamen Nacional de Bandas de Música “Villa de Leganés”.
• • In November 2005, the Third Prize in the II Certamen Nacional de Bandas de Música “Ciudad de Huesca”.
• • In 2011 we participated in the Aragon television program “Dándolo todo Jota” in the Christmas Eve special.
• • In 2015: Participation in the 129 Certamen Internacional de Bandas de de Música “Ciutat de València”.
• • In 2018: Reception of the IV Premio Mariano Nipho in the culture category.

After a 2019-2020 that musical life stopped due to Covid, in June 2021 we opened the gala of the delivery of the XXII Premios de la Música Aragonesa. And last year, 2022, we have recovered the activity prior to the pandemic and also in September: we participated in the events prior to the start of the Gran Premio de Moto GP de Aragón, broadcast by international broadcast TVE.

This biography is a brief summary of the most outstanding activities of our association.

Yátova (Valencia, 1971). Superior Professor of Clarinet at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de València. Master's Degree in Secondary Education from the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya.

In 1996, he founded and assumed the musical direction of the wind band "Lira Alcañizana" obtaining the second prize in the Certamen Internacional de Bandas Villa de Leganés, in 1999. He currently conducts, for the third non-consecutive period, this symphonic band.

He has been music director of the Calanda school and band (1993-2000), music director of the Peñarroya de Tastavins school and band (1997-2000), as well as associated director in bands such as the "Associació de Joves Musics" de Mollet del Vallés (Barcelona) and Band and Choir of Cretas (Teruel).

In 2009, he founded and assumed the musical direction of the Orquesta de Cámara del Bajo Aragón (OCBA) performing concerts throughout Aragon and Germany (Berlin), leaving the direction of this formation in 2012.

High school teacher specializing in music for the Junta de Castilla y León, by public examination, he has worked for the Department of Education of Aragon as a training advisor for secondary school teachers. He is currently Director of the Centro Público de Educación de Adultos "Río Guadalope" in Alcañiz.