Benidorm honours four local musicians from the Provincial Youth Orchestra following their success in Vienna
The four young musicians from Benidorm won First Prize and the Outstanding Success Cum Laude distinction as members of the Alicante Provincial Youth Orchestra (OJPA)
Benidorm City Council welcomed four members of the Alicante Provincial Youth Orchestra (OJPA) following their recent success at the International Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, where they won First Prize and received the Outstanding Success distinction, the festival's highest honour.
Mayor Toni Pérez, accompanied by the Councillor for Culture, Jaime Jesús Pérez, congratulated the orchestra members on their outstanding international achievement and praised the effort, discipline and commitment required to combine musical training with their academic studies. “Music plays a very important role in education,” the Mayor said, adding that “it takes great dedication and deserves real recognition to balance this commitment with studying.”
The four musicians—clarinettists Rubén Martínez and Eric Poliquit, oboist Nora Poliquit and flautist Nayara Hernández—received their musical training at José Pérez Barceló Municipal Professional Conservatory of Music and at the music schools of Benidorm's musical societies, whose bands some of them continue to perform with.
Siblings Eric and Nora Poliquit grew up surrounded by music thanks to the influence of their grandfather, who inspired in them a passion from an early age that has since become a true vocation. For Rubén Martínez, music was also an early choice: while other sports failed to capture his interest, he found in the clarinet the discipline to which he wanted to devote his time and effort. Nayara Hernández discovered her passion for the flute as a child, and the instrument has accompanied her throughout her musical education, leading her to be a member of one of Europe's most distinguished youth orchestras.
Conducted by Francisco Maestre, the OJPA received the festival's top award at the International Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, one of the world's most prestigious competitions for youth orchestras. This latest achievement once again places the orchestra among the leading international youth ensembles.
Through this civic reception, Benidorm City Council congratulated the young musicians and recognised that their talent, dedication and hard work have contributed to this success.