A book collects the 30 years of Rafael Domenech Pardo in charge of Benidorm Unión Musical Union

The event was attended by the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Councilor for Culture, Jaime Jesús Pérez, along with other members of the municipal corporation and the provincial deputy, José Ramón González de Zárate. Everyone has wrapped up in such an important day the former director of the Musical Union, now retired, author of 'Fiesta en Benidorm' official hymn of the Festes Majors Patronals de Benidorm who will be 80 years old on December 26.

During the first part of the act, the documentary 'Una música, un poble: Unió Musical de Benidorm', produced by the regional television, Channel 9, in 1997, was screened. An audiovisual that collects part of the history of Benidorm that arises with tourism in the second half of the last century, seen from the perspective of the Musical Union, then directed by the maestro Domenech Pardo.

After the visualization, Toni Pérez took the floor to remember that Domenech Pardo is "one-third of the musical history of Benidorm", taking into account that the Union is close to its first centenary and the time that the maestro was at the helm of the institution.

The mayor has emphasized the imprint of the teacher in Benidorm. Not only as director of the Unión Musical, but also as a promoter of today's consolidated projects such as the 'José Pérez Barceló' Municipal Professional Music Conservatory, the International Music Course, or music schools such as 'Xirimita i Tabalet', among others.

Toni Pérez finished his intervention by highlighting the figure of Rafael Domenech Pardo. An "honorary citizen" who not only received the 'Ciutat de Benidorm' Cultural Distinction in 2015 but will also give its name, has abounded, to the recently opened auditorium of the Cultural Center.

The act has also had interventions by the painter and sculptor Pepe Albero, percussionist in the Musical Union; the president of the society, Mª Carmen García and the honoree, Rafael Domenech Pardo.

Albero was grateful that the City Council "got wet and well" in publishing the book and reminded the members of the Musical Union that they are no longer with us. For her part, the president has recalled the arrival of the teacher, in 1976, and the mark "so marked among us" that she left in her three decades at the head of the entity. García highlighted transcendental events such as the performance of the Unión Musical at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on the occasion of the visit of the then Pope, John Paul II, to Spain and the training work carried out by Domenech Pardo, training musicians who "not only nurture the three bands Benidorm but also to orchestras and conservatories around the world”.

In his speech, Domenech Pardo thanked the Department of Culture and his councilor, Jaime Jesús Pérez, for the support received for the publication of the book and made a brief tour of the experiences of his thirty years directing the Union Musical.

The musical creator has pointed out the first Music Band Contest, in 1978 and many of the performances before television cameras, tours throughout Europe; and extraordinary concerts, among which he highlighted the one that took place in Asturias, at the Campoamor theater where the Princess of Asturias awards are given every year.

The book 'Mis 30 años como director de Unión Musical de Benidorm' can be purchased at Unión Musical and in the main bookstores in the city. It has a format of 210 by 297 mm, 384 pages, and a price of 25 euros.