July 23 The Dutch Royal Military Band in Yecla

The “Johan Willem Friso” Royal Military Band are on a summer tour of the north of Murcia

This July an international meeting of “symphonic bands” is being held in the Altiplano area in the north of the Region of Murcia, the star guests being the more than 60 members of the Dutch “Johan Willem Friso” Royal Military Band, who will be performing in both Yecla and Jumilla as well as in Caudete in the south of Castilla-La Mancha.

The cycle of events kicks off in Yecla on 22^nd July, when rehearsals take place involving the Dutch musicians and the members of the Asociación de Amigos de la Música de Yecla and the Asociación Jumillana de Amigos de la Música. The following day ends with a concert in the Plaza de Toros at 20.30, which members of the public are invited to attend free of charge.

The tour then moves on to the Numskull Festival in Caudete before returning to the Region of Murcia for another concert in Jumilla on Friday July 25, starting at 22.00 in the Plaza de la Glorieta.

It is anticipated that in a gesture of respect to their hosts the Dutch band, directed and conducted by Frans-Aert Burghgraef, will perform works by local composers such as Óscar Navarro, Ricardo Molla, José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana and Julián Santos, while the local music associations of Jumlla and Yecla are preparing programs which feature a variety of genres and composers, from pasodobles to zarzuela light operas and the music of Alfred Reed.

Further information is available from the tourist office of Yecla (email turismo@yecla.es) or, for more visiting information in English, go to the home page of Yecla Today