'Classics at 9' series returns to Benidorm International Music Course

The 36th edition of the Benidorm International Music Course will begin next Monday, June 30th, along with the second edition of the "Classics at 9" concert series. The concerts will be held at the Cultural Centre every day of the International Course, featuring a variety of instruments.

Jaime Jesús Pérez, Councillor for Culture, and José Antonio Gonzaga, Course Director, presented the second edition of the concerts this morning. The concerts were conceived with the aim of "differentiating the International Course concerts and making them visible and attractive to the public," the councillor stated.

There will be five concerts from Monday, July 30th to Friday, July 4th, with free admission until the Cultural Center's capacity is filled, "and with the guarantee of hearing high-quality music from the best professionals," said Pérez, who highlighted the dual purpose of the music courses: "To have the best teachers in each specialty, so that students can benefit from this, and, on the other hand, to allow citizens to enjoy high-quality and distinctive concerts," he stated.

José Antonio Gonzaga, for his part, expressed his satisfaction "at being able to offer five truly excellent concerts with some of the best artists available."

The first of these will take place on Monday, June 30th, with Carla Román, winner of the 25th Music Competition, on piano. "She is no longer a promising young artist, but a reality that is playing with the best orchestras in the country," Gonzaga stated. On Tuesday, July 1, José Luis García Vegara (oboe), “one of the great European soloists,” Miguel Colom (violin), “who is constantly giving concerts throughout Europe,” Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (piano), and Graham Jackson (piano) will perform.

On Wednesday, July 2, it will be the turn of “one of the best clarinettists on the continent,” François Benda, along with Elena Gotsouliak (piano), Mariano García (saxophone), and Takahiro Mita (piano). A day later, there will be a marimba concert “with the two best marimbists in Europe, who are among the best in the world,” with Conrado Moya and Katarzyna Mycka. And on Friday, July 4, the final of the International Oboe Competition will take place, featuring the three finalists and the collaboration of the string trio “La Stravaganza.”

“I'm sure it will be exciting and of the highest quality,” Gonzaga assured.

Finally, both Jaime Jesús Pérez and José Antonio Gonzaga himself encouraged "all the citizens of Benidorm to come to the Cultural Centre because the concerts are one hour long, with no breaks. There's no better plan in Benidorm, and they're sure to enjoy it."