This Saturday, 23 January at 7pm, the Symphony Band of Ibiza (Banda Sinfónica Ciutat d'Eivissa) will be giving a free concert in the first and the key event of its 25th anniversary celebrations. The concert takes place at the Can Ventosa Cultural Centre in Ibiza Town.
There's music from West Side Story and Mary Poppins, contemporary classical pieces and more traditional classics by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich.
The band is made up of around 60 musicians that work with the band full time with students and musician island residents participating in several of the 15 annual concerts which include the Carnival Concert on 7 February and the Easter Concert on 19 March. Full details here.
The free tickets, with a maximum of two per person, can be obtained directly from Can Ventosa's ticket office on Calle Ignasi Wallis. Joining the band will be the Wind and Percussion Ensemble from the Patron's School of Music.
The Symphony Band of Ibiza was created in 1990 and is led by Manuel Ramón Más. This year in the celebrations of its 25th year, the band will be led by four different directors for different music events during the year. These include its leader Ramon Mas, Damien Boluda, Adolfo Villalonga and a director to be selected by the band members themselves.
This year a music prize will be offered for music composed especially for the band, of which the winning piece will be included in its first CD recording out this September.
A new website has been launched to promote Ibiza Town's classical musical activities including the Symphony Band and the Orchestra of Ibiza. There's also a Facebook and new Twitter page – all are intended to publicise concerts and all activities that the groups put on.
Snap up your free tickes fast for the first of this year's celebratory concerts.
WORDS: Julian Heathcote
