{"id":1917,"date":"2026-07-14T09:13:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T09:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/societies\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T08:35:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T08:35:20","slug":"societies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/societies\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCIETIES"},"content":{"rendered":"
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- SPAIN'S MOST UNIQUE MUSICAL FABRIC<\/h5>\n

Musical societies of Ll\u00edria<\/h2>\n

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If there is one element that explains why Ll\u00edria is unique in the musical world, it is not its monuments or its festivals: it is its musical societies. Six institutions\u2014some centuries-old, all very much alive\u2014that are not mere groups of musicians but complete social structures with schools, auditoriums, orchestras, choirs, folklore groups, and lifelong learning programs.<\/h4>\n

In Ll\u00edria, the musical society is not the place where you go to listen to music: it is the place where you learn to play it, where you grew up playing with your neighbors, where your child now learns what you learned as a child. It is an institution of belonging, not of consumption.<\/h4>\n

This model\u2014invisible to those who do not know it, extraordinary to those who understand it\u2014is what UNESCO recognized in 2019.<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Bicentenary\"<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Ateneu Musical \u00b7 Banda Primitiva<\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1819<\/span> <\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span>The oldest active civil band in Spain<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>In February 2014, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo (Honorary Director) conducted it<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>First Spanish band to perform <\/span><\/span>in China<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>Has performed in Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, the United States, and China. <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>Features a music school, an auditorium, and a large historical archive<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Founded in 1819 by the Franciscan Father Fray<\/span> Antoni Albarrac\u00edn Engu\u00eddanos, the Banda Primitiva de Ll\u00edria is the oldest civil band in Spain still in operation. Two hundred years of uninterrupted history. First prize at the Valencia Contest in 1888. Performances in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United States (New York, Los Angeles), and China (Beijing and Shanghai). First Spanish band to perform in China. The Banda Primitiva first appeared at the Valencia International Band Contest in 1888. Its most notable participations and recognitions:<\/span><\/h4>\n

1929 \u2014 First prize at the Barcelona Band Contest, at the International Exhibition.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1962 \u2014<\/span> First Prize and Honorable Mention at the Kerkrade International Music Contest (Netherlands)<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

1966 \u2014 First Prize, Honorable Mention, City Council Flag, and Golden Trumpet from the Czechoslovakian Foreign Ministry in Kerkrade<\/span><\/h4>\n

1986 \u2014 First Prize and Honorable Mention at the Valencia International Contest (first centenary of the contest)<\/span><\/h4>\n

2005 \u2014 First Prize and Best Band of the Valencian Community at the Valencia International Contest<\/span><\/h4>\n

2011 \u2014 First Prize and Honorable Mention at the 125th Valencia International Contest<\/span><\/h4>\n

2012 \u2014 Medal for Cultural Merit from the Generalitat Valenciana<\/span>
2014 \u2014 Declared an \"Asset of Cultural Interest\" by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Uni\u00f3 Musical de Ll\u00edria<\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1903<\/span> <\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span>In 1976, Uni\u00f3 Musical was the first musical society in Spain to found a school for compulsory education to integrate musical studies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>In 1997, its school became the first Integrated Center for Musical Studies (CIEM) in Spain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>Chief Conductor of the Symphonic Band: Pablo Marqu\u00e9s Mestre (since 2016)
Youth Band Conductor: Esteban Espinosa Garc\u00eda, Symphonic Orchestra Conductor: Pascual Cabanes Fabra, and President: Amparo Esquerdo Arag\u00f3 \u2014 The first woman in the history of Ll\u00edria to lead a musical society.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Founded in 1903 following the merger of two previous bands that had been active since the early decades of the 19th century, the Uni\u00f3 Musical de Ll\u00edria is much more than a musical society: it is an educational, cultural, and social institution that spans from childhood to retirement, and whose symphonic band has achieved 70 first prizes in national and international contests throughout its history.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Uni\u00f3 Musical is not just a band: it is a complete musical ecosystem. Its current groups include:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Symphonic Band \u2014 The main and most awarded formation, with 70 first prizes in contests and 46 first prizes at the Valencia International Music Band Contest \u2014 more than any other band in the history of the event.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Youth Orchestra \u2014 A group of young musicians who represent the society's generational handover and perform regularly at national and international festivals.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Symphonic Orchestra \u2014 Conducted by Pascual Cabanes Fabra, it has won the First Prize at the International Orchestra Contest.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Social Choir \u2014 Conducted by Vivi\u00e1n Guti\u00e9rrez Abreu.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Children's Choir \u2014 For children and youth.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Colla Pastrana de Tabal i Dol\u00e7aina \u2014 Traditional Valencian music group with its own school.<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Uni\u00f3 Musical Symphonic Band has a history of era-defining performances:<\/span><\/h4>\n

1978 \u2014 First Spanish band to tour the United States.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1983 \u2014 First music band to perform at the Teatro Real in Madrid.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1983 \u2014 Tour of Mexico.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1989 \u2014 Concert in St. Peter's Square before Pope John Paul II.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1992 \u2014 Recorded the music Carles Santos composed for the <\/span>Barcelona Olympics and performed at the closing ceremony. It also recorded part of the music for the Seville Universal Exposition.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1999 \u2014 Tour of Japan.<\/span><\/h4>\n

2005 \u2014 Tour of Cuba.<\/span><\/h4>\n

2008 \u2014 Tour of Venezuela.<\/span><\/h4>\n

2013 \u2014 Zubin Mehta conducted the Symphonic Band in a historic concert: it was the first time Maestro Mehta had conducted a music band.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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Agrupaci\u00f3 Edetana Vicente Gim\u00e9nez<\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1947<\/span> <\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>In 1962, the Vergara record label made the group's first recording on two 45 r.p.m. vinyl records.<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>In 2010, a compact disc was released with the recording of \"Serenata Lliriana.\"<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Medal of Merit from the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Rotary Club Diploma of Honor<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Medal of the City, awarded by the Ll\u00edria City Council on September 22, 2014<\/h4>\n

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Founded in 1947 by Vicente Gim\u00e9nez Mart\u00ed\u2014professor at the National Orchestra of Spain and the Municipal Orchestra of Valencia\u2014the Agrupaci\u00f3 Musical Edetana represents a different musical dimension within Ll\u00edria's sound fabric. While the large bands fill the contests with wind and percussion, Edetana cultivates the world of plucked and bowed strings with admirable care and continuity.<\/h4>\n

The Agrupaci\u00f3 Musical Edetana is organized into two complementary sections:<\/h4>\n

Chamber Orchestra \u2014 Composed of plucked and bowed string instruments, it develops a repertoire of classical and contemporary chamber music that brings a different dimension to the Ll\u00edria musical scene.<\/h4>\n

Plectrum Orchestra \u2014 Composed of plucked string instruments\u2014bandurria, lute, guitar, and double bass\u2014a musical formation that keeps alive a performance tradition with roots in Mediterranean popular music. Currently conducted by Miquel Maqueda.<\/h4>\n

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'El Micalet' Plectrum Orchestra<\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1956<\/span> <\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span>Has performed in Spain and Europe. Notable performances include the Palau de la M\u00fasica de Val\u00e8ncia and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sof\u00eda.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Medal of Honor from the San Carlos Royal Academy of Fine Arts<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span>International Festivals \u2014 Participation in the V and VIII Mah\u00f3n Music Festivals (Menorca) and in the XVII Europeade Festival held in Schwalmstadt (Germany).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Founded in 1956 by Manuel G\u00f3mez Mart\u00ednez, the El Micalet Plectrum Orchestra of Ll\u00edria has cultivated for nearly seven decades a musical genre as demanding as it is little known outside its circles: plectrum music, performed with bandurria, lute, guitar, and double bass. A unique formation in the Ll\u00edria musical context, whose international journey and performances in the best auditoriums in Spain make it one of the country's leading plectrum orchestras.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Since its founding, El Micalet has maintained uninterrupted concert activity throughout Spain and several European countries\u2014Portugal, France, Switzerland, Germany\u2014with particularly memorable performances:<\/span><\/h4>\n

1967 \u2014 Concert in tribute to Maestro Granados in Madrid, under the direction of Maestro Halffter.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1973 \u2014 Selected for the tribute to Maestro Serrano in Madrid.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1989 \u2014 Concert in Paris on the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of the Reconquest of Valencia.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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UDP Ll\u00edria - Camp de T\u00faria - Serranos Band <\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1993 <\/span><\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>First European Seniors' Band<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>45 musicians, more than 650 concerts in Spain and Europe, and a message that music has no age<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Medal of Merit from the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Rotary Club Diploma of Honor<\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Medal of the City, awarded by the Ll\u00edria City Council on September 22, 2014<\/h4>\n

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In 1993, when regional deputy Elena Y\u00e1\u00f1ez asked at a meeting what new ideas could arise to commemorate the European Year, Miguel Ba\u00f1uls had the answer: to form a regional music band composed exclusively of seniors. What sounded like a bold idea became a historic fact: the UDP Ll\u00edria-Camp de T\u00faria-Serranos Band was the first European senior music band founded in Spain.<\/h4>\n

The UDP Band was born with 35 members under the direction of Amador Mart\u00ednez. Three decades later, it has 45 musicians\u2014many of them professionals who dedicated their lives to music and now continue to enjoy it in retirement\u2014and a non-stop concert schedule.<\/h4>\n

In its more than 27-year history, the UDP Band has offered more than 650 concerts throughout Spain, in addition to international performances in Andorra, Gibraltar, and Portugal.<\/h4>\n

The UDP Band is much more than a musical group. It is the practical demonstration of something Ll\u00edria has been doing for centuries: using music to integrate all social groups. In this case, the senior community, who find in the band a space for belonging, activity, socialization, and artistic expression that no other institution can offer in the same way.<\/h4>\n

The band has been internationally recognized as a model for active aging through music.<\/h4>\n

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El Tossal Dance and Rondalla Group<\/h2>\n

FOUNDED IN 1997<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\u2014 <\/span>Its performances outside Ll\u00edria include the Castell d'Alaqu\u00e0s, G\u00e0tova, Burjassot, the Roman Theater of Sagunto, Faura, Sueca, Agullent, and many other municipalities in the Valencian Community.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>In 2018, it participated in the Les Meravelles Llirianes project, supporting the candidacy of Tossal de Santa B\u00e0rbara and contributing to the promotion of Ll\u00edria's heritage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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In 1997, in the courtyard of Sant Francesc in Ll\u00edria, a group of friends gathered for the coronation of the Pur\u00edsima and prepared the first dances. What began as a festive celebration became a cultural mission: to recover, preserve, and transmit the dance, songs, and music of the Valencian tradition. Thus was born the Grup de Danses i Rondalla El Tossal de Ll\u00edria.<\/span><\/h4>\n

El Tossal's work is not just to represent folklore: it is to recover it. Each piece in the repertoire has required research, documentation, and careful choreographic reconstruction work. Among its most significant recoveries is the Baile de los Pastorcillos y Pastorcillas de Ll\u00edria, a local traditional dance that Maestro Ferran Roig reconstructed in 2017 based on the shepherd dance of Villamarxant.<\/span><\/h4>\n

2009 was a key year: with the creation of the new fable under the direction of Maria Jos\u00e9 Pastor and the direction of the dance group by Professor Ferran Roig, El Tossal made a qualitative leap that led them to be finalists in Sona la Dipu that same year, and again in 2015.<\/span><\/h4>\n

El Tossal understands that tradition only survives if it is transmitted. That is why it has created two complementary educational spaces:<\/span><\/h4>\n

School for Boys and Girls (2010) \u2014 For the little ones, who learn the songs, feelings, and customs inherited from their ancestors through play and dance.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Adult School (2016) \u2014 For seniors who want to connect with their cultural roots or simply enjoy traditional Valencian dance in company.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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UNESCO Creative City of Music<\/h3>\n

Ll\u00edria City of Music<\/h2>\n

\u00b7 Institutional and Cultural Portal
\u00b7 Ll\u00edria City Council<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"UNESCO<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Contact<\/h2>\n

C\/ San Vicente Ferrer, 19<\/a><\/h3>\n

+34 661 91 72 33<\/a><\/h3>\n

cityofmusic@lliria.es<\/a><\/h3>\n

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM\u20133:00 PM<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>

PRIVACY & COOKIES POLICY<\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1917","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1917"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1930,"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1917\/revisions\/1930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lliriacityofmusic.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}