Banda Civica Musicale di Soncino
The Soncino Civic Band originates from the group of players who had enrolled in the local National Guard in Napoleon’s days, though its deepest roots can be traced back to the orchestra’s tradition of performing at Christmas mass with the exposure of the relics of the Holy Christ child’s crib (1606). In any event, the existence of the band is certified in 1817 and 1823, and documentary evidence confirms its performance with a group of teachers of the Crema Orchestra in 1836.
On September 20th and 21st 1859, the Soncino band took part in the celebrations held in the honour of King Vittorio Emanuele II in Cremona, and in Soncino on the following day. In April 1862, they greeted General Giuseppe Garibaldi who had come to open the target-shooting facilities.
In August 1884, a new self-governing band was set up, whose chief purpose was to extol and reward organisational and training endeavours under the leadership of the young maestro Carlo Pio Marzani, appointed Parish organist at the end of 1899. In fact, the following years mark the beginning of a highly assertive period for the band, both on an interprovincial and national level: 2nd best in class in Pavia (1900), in San Pellegrino Terme (1901) and Treviglio (1902) and finally, the first prize in Brescia (1904) and Gavardo (1905), without forgetting another outstanding performance in 1906 at the International Music Competition in connection with the Milan Exhibition.
After years of dignified pursuits, marred however by two world war intervals, a significant increase of the band members can be registered in the mid-seventies thanks to the establishment of music courses arranged by the Band directorship, first, under the leadership of Luciano Zanchini and then, of Ugo Vanoli in 1989.
In the early ‘90s, Vanoli launches a drastic program of renewal, both from a conceptual and operational viewpoint, and entrusts the direction of the programme to the maestro Giancarlo Locatelli. Standard instrument courses are assigned to graduated maestro, thus enabling a growing number of new and well-trained instrumentalists, perfectly conformable with the base group, to join the band.
In 1996, the band takes part in the Competition for Bands in Condove where it receives the coveted first prize class I. The band adds to its experience by organising training courses for band directors, in association with WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles), establishing an ongoing professional relationship with world famous conductors in the process .
Having won the 2nd place overall class I in the 4th International Competition for Bands in Riva del Garda (GOLD FLUGELHORN) in March 1997, the band was entrusted, from July 1997 until January 1999, to the M° Walter Ruggeri and immediately after, to the M° Luca Valenti, appointed to the position of Chief and Assistant Conductor. He can be credited with the honour of having trained the band which, under the leadership of the guest conductor M° Daniele Carnevali, was awarded the 1st place overall class I in the 5th International Competition for Bands in Riva del Garda (GOLD FLUGHELHORN) in March 1999. In June, the unusual levels of achievement reached by Maestro Vanoli’s band are being recognised: The illustrious maestro J. Van Der Roost honours him by conducting the traditional Spring Concerto held at La Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino. In July, the Soncino group, under the leadership of the chief conductor M° Luca Valenti, is invited to perform at the acclaimed International Competition for Bands organised by the Valencia Town Council in Spain, winning the 1st place overall Class II. As a result, London’s maestro J. Horovitz pays tribute to the band by making a guest appearance at the Teatro Ponchielli in Cremona at the end of the year.
The band’s 2000 season starts with concerts performed at Soresina’s Community Theatre and Crema’s S. Domenico theatre, under the auspices of the guest conductor Pablo Sanchez Torella, Conductor of Valencia’s Civic Band (Spain). In May, the band attends Rimini’s Music Fair (DISMA 2000) where it presents a concert at the Nino Rota Hall featuring M° G. Cassone as soloist. The Soncino band’s agenda also includes a performance as guest band during the closing concert of the International Competition for Bands in Salsomaggiore Terme, where the band is conducted by the guest M° Felix Hauswirth, world chairman of the WASBE, and a series of concerts in the province of Crema (concert for Republic Day in Cremona’s Piazza del Duomo, a concert in Casalmaggiore’s Piazza del Municipio, a concert in Crema’s Piazza del Duomo). The 2000 Season draws to a close with a concert at the Community Theatre in Soresina in November under the baton of the guest conductor M° Hardy Mertens, and the year-end Gala performance at the S. Domenico theatre in Crema under the leadership of the chief conductor Luca Valenti.
On September 20th and 21st 1859, the Soncino band took part in the celebrations held in the honour of King Vittorio Emanuele II in Cremona, and in Soncino on the following day. In April 1862, they greeted General Giuseppe Garibaldi who had come to open the target-shooting facilities.
In August 1884, a new self-governing band was set up, whose chief purpose was to extol and reward organisational and training endeavours under the leadership of the young maestro Carlo Pio Marzani, appointed Parish organist at the end of 1899. In fact, the following years mark the beginning of a highly assertive period for the band, both on an interprovincial and national level: 2nd best in class in Pavia (1900), in San Pellegrino Terme (1901) and Treviglio (1902) and finally, the first prize in Brescia (1904) and Gavardo (1905), without forgetting another outstanding performance in 1906 at the International Music Competition in connection with the Milan Exhibition.
After years of dignified pursuits, marred however by two world war intervals, a significant increase of the band members can be registered in the mid-seventies thanks to the establishment of music courses arranged by the Band directorship, first, under the leadership of Luciano Zanchini and then, of Ugo Vanoli in 1989.
In the early ‘90s, Vanoli launches a drastic program of renewal, both from a conceptual and operational viewpoint, and entrusts the direction of the programme to the maestro Giancarlo Locatelli. Standard instrument courses are assigned to graduated maestro, thus enabling a growing number of new and well-trained instrumentalists, perfectly conformable with the base group, to join the band.
In 1996, the band takes part in the Competition for Bands in Condove where it receives the coveted first prize class I. The band adds to its experience by organising training courses for band directors, in association with WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles), establishing an ongoing professional relationship with world famous conductors in the process .
Having won the 2nd place overall class I in the 4th International Competition for Bands in Riva del Garda (GOLD FLUGELHORN) in March 1997, the band was entrusted, from July 1997 until January 1999, to the M° Walter Ruggeri and immediately after, to the M° Luca Valenti, appointed to the position of Chief and Assistant Conductor. He can be credited with the honour of having trained the band which, under the leadership of the guest conductor M° Daniele Carnevali, was awarded the 1st place overall class I in the 5th International Competition for Bands in Riva del Garda (GOLD FLUGHELHORN) in March 1999. In June, the unusual levels of achievement reached by Maestro Vanoli’s band are being recognised: The illustrious maestro J. Van Der Roost honours him by conducting the traditional Spring Concerto held at La Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino. In July, the Soncino group, under the leadership of the chief conductor M° Luca Valenti, is invited to perform at the acclaimed International Competition for Bands organised by the Valencia Town Council in Spain, winning the 1st place overall Class II. As a result, London’s maestro J. Horovitz pays tribute to the band by making a guest appearance at the Teatro Ponchielli in Cremona at the end of the year.
The band’s 2000 season starts with concerts performed at Soresina’s Community Theatre and Crema’s S. Domenico theatre, under the auspices of the guest conductor Pablo Sanchez Torella, Conductor of Valencia’s Civic Band (Spain). In May, the band attends Rimini’s Music Fair (DISMA 2000) where it presents a concert at the Nino Rota Hall featuring M° G. Cassone as soloist. The Soncino band’s agenda also includes a performance as guest band during the closing concert of the International Competition for Bands in Salsomaggiore Terme, where the band is conducted by the guest M° Felix Hauswirth, world chairman of the WASBE, and a series of concerts in the province of Crema (concert for Republic Day in Cremona’s Piazza del Duomo, a concert in Casalmaggiore’s Piazza del Municipio, a concert in Crema’s Piazza del Duomo). The 2000 Season draws to a close with a concert at the Community Theatre in Soresina in November under the baton of the guest conductor M° Hardy Mertens, and the year-end Gala performance at the S. Domenico theatre in Crema under the leadership of the chief conductor Luca Valenti.
