Arafo Music Group Marks Centenary with Concert

The Agrupación Artística Musical La Candelaria de Arafo, a local music group, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. This milestone shows just how deeply music is woven into the community's identity. To mark the occasion, the group will hold a special concert this Saturday at 8:00 PM in the Municipal Auditorium. Everyone is welcome, and entry is free.

The band was founded on February 2, 1926, on the day of the Virgen de Candelaria. This concert marks 100 years since their very first public show, which was led by Juan Hardisson. This Saturday's performance will be directed by Carlos Daniel Albertos Fernández, who has been the group's leader for the past twelve years. The concert will feature a varied selection of music, including two brand-new pasodobles. These are "Haroldo Santos Felipe," composed by José Carlos Fariña Pérez, and "Roberto Javier Pestano González," by Saúl Gómez Soler. Both new pieces honor the band's two longest-serving members, who will be recognized as Honorary Musician and Honorary Director.

The program also includes another premiere: "Footprints and Paths," a piece by Saúl Gómez Soler that celebrates the band's 100-year journey. Additionally, there will be "Añavingo," a musical fantasy by Francisco Javier Curbelo Rivero, which brings to life the local identity connected to Saint Augustine. The concert will finish with well-known symphonic band works, including Rimsky-Korsakov's "Capriccio Espagnol" and Johan De Meij's "Extreme Makeover."

Carlos Daniel Albertos Fernández, the current director, points out that the group's importance goes beyond just music. He sees it as a social and educational force that teaches values like respect and teamwork. This teaching role is clear in their academy, which currently trains about 120 students. The Mayor of Arafo, Juan Ramón Martín, has congratulated La Candelaria, praising its role as a cultural highlight and its valuable educational work in the town.