05/04/10

The “Avilesina Coral Association” is an amateur choir which was founded in 1904 and since then they have been closely linked to the city of Avilés through their participation in the most remarkable cultural events of the city. It’s perhaps the most famous choral foundation of the city.

However we can say that their most active period begins in 1983 under the chairmanship of Mr Alvaro Alvarez. Through their long career, the musical direction of the choir has always been under the baton of important directors who have led the Coral to a prominent position in the Asturian music scene. It performs music in a wide variety of styles from the Renaissance to contemporary music.

Through all these years they have conducted numerous and memorable concerts and performances from which we highlight only a few such as the interpretation, with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Conservatory of Avilés, of the Mass by Mozart or the opera D. Pasquale at the Festival Palace of Santander and the Cuban zarzuela "Cecilia Valdés" premiered at Palacio Valdés Theatre of Avilés.

Currently the choir is made up of 50 mixed voices whose main wish is always to foster the love for choral music wherever they perform. Their chairman is Mr. Nardo Villaboy and their conductor is Mrs Rocio Cuervo Coto.

This choral group is appears annually in concerts all over the Asturian geography and also participates in concerts out of their region, taking their music through all these years, to most of the Spanish provinces and even abroad. In this sense, its worth mentioning their tour in France and their concerts in S. Agustin de la Florida, Tampa and Orlando in the U.S.

In so many years of musical activity they have won innumerable awards and mentions. We only describe the most emblematic as the Third Prize in Torrevieja International Competition (1989 and 1990), the Second Prize in the Contest of Ejea de los Caballeros (1991) and the First Prize in the Contest of Noia in Coruña (1992). In the year 1993 they recorded their first CD with 15 works of various styles.

A brief review of some activities and awards in chronological order:

1906: First Prize in the Provincial Competition of choruses.

1986: Twelve-day tour to Brittany, in France

1988: Concert in Úbeda (Jaén) to mark the tenth anniversary of the Ubeda Coral

1989: Polyphony Third Prize in the International Competition in Torrevieja.

1990: Habaneras Third Prize in the International Competition in Torrevieja.

1991: Second Prize at the Aragon Song Contest in Ejea de los Caballeros.

1991: Performance along with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Conservatory of Music in Avilés of Mozart's Mass led by D. José M ª Martínez.

1991: Prize for the Promotion of Avilés, established by her UCAYC.

1992: First Prize in the Contest of Noia in Coruña

1992: Closing of the 1st International Choral Week in Polanco (Cantabria)

1992: Astur-Galaicos meetings and also concerts in Estepona (Málaga). .

1993: The choir recorded its first CD with 15 diverse songs.

1994: Premiere of the opera D. Pasquale at Palacio Valdés Theatre of Avilés.

1995: Representation of the opera D. Pasquale at the Festival Palace of Santander

1995: National release in Palacio Valdés and Jovellanos theaters of the Cuban Zarzuela "Cecilia Valdés."

1996: Performances in Barakaldo (Vizcaya)

1996:  Concerts in the Royal Palace, St. Bernard Parish and Prince of Asturias hotel in Seville, on the Day of Asturias.

1996:  Performances in the Auditorium of Santander and also in the Guriezo Collegiate in Cantabria.

1999: Performance at the XX International Meeting of Santurce (Vizcaya).

2000: Performance in the Habaneras Contest "City of Coruña."

2001: Concert at the Auditorium Príncipe Felipe of Oviedo. Mass Concert in the Auditorium of the Collegiate of Salas. Concert in the Church of San Lorenzo de Gijón on the occasion of its centennial.

2001:  Concert in Chascáis (Portugal).

2002: Performance at the Lope de Vega theater in Sevilla, organized by the Asturian Centre of Seville on the occasion of the homage to D. Pedro Braña

2.002: FECORA granted the Award Axúntabense "in recognition of its work in promoting choral music