The mayor of Cieza, Pascual Lucas, accompanied by the councilors for Culture and Education, María Ramos and Manuela Fernández, respectively, welcomed the eight Cieza musicians who are part of the Youth Orchestra of the Province of Alicante, which won first prize last week, and the Aspirants' Orchestra, second.
The Orchestra The Youth Association of the Province of Alicante (OJPA) was proclaimed Summa Cum Laude winner of the Vienna Festival on July 7th, which took place in one of the most iconic venues in the world, the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Furthermore, the Aspirants section achieved a commendable second place, which is undoubtedly an excellent result for these new musical talents from the province and parts of Murcia, including eight musicians from Cieza.
Thus, the OJPA has now achieved its third triumph at the Vienna International Festival of Youth Orchestras Summa Cum Laude, while the Aspirants also improved their performance, having finished third two years ago.
The protagonists of this story are the 80 musicians from the OJPA (aged between 14 and 26) and the same number of musicians from its Aspirants section (with boys and girls aged 8 to 14), directed by Francisco Maestre and Juan Miguel Antón, who have also had the support of family and friends throughout the contest and competition.
An intense musical day in Vienna began with a warm-up in the Muth Hall, where they rehearsed with the Boys' Choir, and even held a flash mob at Sissi's Schönbrunn Palace.
Thus, after a great performance on the prestigious stage of the Musikverein (where the traditional New Year's concert is held and televised around the world), the young people of the OJPA and the Aspirants have returned home with the satisfaction of a job well done and the happiness of having achieved another award in their careers.