2014 Curs International Music Vila de L’Olleria in Valencia, Spain
The 10th annual Curs International Music Vila de L’Olleria (CIMVO) was held July 8-12, 2014 in Valencia, Spain.
Throughout the history of CIMVO, many of the world’s most celebrated teachers, soloists and groups have performed including German Brass, Mnozil Brass, Belgia Brass, Enrique Crespo, Eric Terwilliguer, Oystein Baadsvik, Tim and Jessica Buzzbe, Uwe Koeller, Eric Aubier, and Wolfgang Gaag. Due to the worldwide economic crisis, it appeared it would be impossible to continue the program, but the City of L’Olleria (Spain) jumped in and offered maximum support of the international showcase.
CIMVO originated as a festival for wind instruments and guitar and evolved into a trumpet only festival. By focusing on a single specialty, CIMVO is considered one of the most important trumpet festivals in Europe by the quantity and quality of guest lecturers. CIMVO 2014 featured:
Manu Mellaerts, soloist of the National Opera of Brussels and Professor of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
Richard Stoelzel, Principal Trumpet of the Palm Beach Opera and Professor, Grand Valley State University (USA)
Slawomir Cichor, soloist, Arthur Rubinstein Symphony Orchestra and Professor, Conservatory of Lodz, Poland
Matthias Kamps, soloist of the Komische Oper in Berlin, Germany)
Adam Rapa, International Soloist
Manuel Lopez, reputed educator and one of the most important teachers in Spain
José Cháfer, Chair & Professor of Trumpet, Conservatory of Murcia and Director of CIMVO
The schedule featured a large number of activities for the 35 students attending this year. Students came from Chile, Belgium, Poland, USA, and Spain.
A welcome reception was held on July 8 followed by classes presented by Richard Stoelzel, Manu Mellaerts, and Adam Rapa. Richard Stoelzel (USA) also presented a lecture on the James Thompson’s “Buzzing Basics.” That day the preliminary round of the International Trumpet Competition also took place. The festival teachers, along with composer Javier Artaza, served as preliminary judges.
A warm-up class with Manu Mellaerts began the morning of July 9 followed by individual classes presented by the teachers. Thomas Lubitz, a Yamaha specialist in Hamburg, was available to adjust the students’ Yamaha trumpets throughout the day. That same day, David Koch (USA) and Juaquin Molina (Spain) both won the finals of the CIMVO International Trumpet Competition.
On July 10, Richard Stoelzel presented the morning warm-up session that was followed by a presentation by Manuel Lopez and individual classes by all the teachers.
José Cháfer presented the warm-up class on July 11 followed by more individual classes. International soloist Adam Rapa presented a lecture on the study of the trumpet on classic and jazz styles. Manu Mellaerts presented a program on the Pierre Thibaud and Max Scholssberg methods. Following dinner in the Santonja House, hosted by sponsor Ilbericos Olmedo, a concert of trumpet ensembles was presented which featured repertoire from Spanish composers. The evening concluded with a 2-hour concert that will be remembered by all attending featuring Adam Rapa with collaborative artists Lucca dell’Ana on piano and Elizabeth Vik on vocals.
The last day of the festival, July 12, featured a warm-up class with Slawomir Cichor as well as individual classes. The final concerts featured the guest artists and master teachers of CIMVO 2014. The varied program featured the premiere of CIMVO Overture composed for the occasion by Enrique Alborch and conducted by Alborch; Weber's Clarinet Concerto performed by Adam Rapa; Centennial Horizon performed by José Cháfer; Harry James Concerto featuring Manu Mellarts; and the Concerto for Two Trumpets by Erik Morales performed by Slawomir Cichor and Richard Stoelzel. The winners of the CIMVO Competition performed Cefesis III and Postcards. The concert ended with Erik Morales’ Infinite Ascent and La Virgen de La Macarena.
Source: José Cháfer, Director of CIMVO, Professor de la Catedra de Trompeta del Conservatorio Superior de Murcia, Murcia, SPAIN