The Spanish suite by Javier Pérez Garrido has been chosen to welcome the Italian cruise ship arriving in Cartagena next Sunday with 3,617 passengers, who will flood the city's streets. The performance will be conducted by the "Santa Cruz" Musical Union from Abanilla, under the direction of Maestro José Manuel Navarro Egea. This exciting event, part of the "From Sea, Port, and Bands" series, will take place in the historic Plaza de los Héroes de Cavite in Cartagena at 10:00 AM.
A Trip to Spain is a musical suite consisting of five movements, each inspired by the traditional music of a different Spanish city. The piece encompasses Sevilla, Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, capturing the essence of each place through music. It was commissioned by the Didsbury High School Symphonic Winds from Canada for their tour in Spain in 2015. Each movement reflects a unique story or aspect of Spanish culture, from the lively sevillanas to the romance in the Alhambra, or the chotis in Madrid and the sardana in Barcelona. The composition culminates in the fusion of the national anthems of Canada and Spain to the rhythm of the Valencian pasodoble, symbolizing the union between the two countries.
The "Santa Cruz" Musical Union has its roots in the former "Agrupación Musical Abanillense." Over the years, it has had several directors, and currently, it is led by José Manuel Navarro Egea since September 2021, with a team of highly qualified educators. The association operates as a nonprofit entity that provides musical education and artistic activities to a wide number of students and music enthusiasts. The band has won the "Pascual Lozano" award for the best musical accompaniment in the Grand Parade of Kábilas and Mesnadas in Abanilla eight times. Furthermore, they have participated in national and regional competitions such as the National Band Music Contest in Murcia and the "Villa de Abanilla" Band Festival. They were named "Festers of the Year" in 2011 and have performed at band festivals in various provinces. They have also recorded festival music albums and took part in the "Bands at the Auditorium" series in Murcia in February 2019.
