The University of Almería celebrated the major classical music event marking the end of its XXVII Summer Courses. The UAL Symphony Orchestra filled the Municipal Auditorium Maestro Padilla with a concert that paid tribute to Mozart, on the 270th anniversary of his birth, and featured works by Respighi. During the evening, the Social Council of the University of Almería presented scholarships for music education. The event included performances by artists E-Hyun Huettermann and Geukchan Lee, and featured a total of 96 musicians on stage, a milestone for the orchestra.
The rector of the UAL, José J. Céspedes, highlighted the importance of this concert as a tradition representing the commitment to education and culture, making it accessible to society. He emphasized the connection of the Summer Courses with the community and the role of the Social Council in promoting musical training through scholarships.
Council members Amalia Martín and Diego Cruz were present, underscoring the event's positive reception by the public and the collaboration between the University of Almería and the Almería City Council. The council provided the auditorium facility and reaffirmed its support for the Summer Courses program.
The Vice-Rector for Culture and Society, María del Mar Ruiz, provided a positive assessment of the courses, noting the variety of topics and high participation. She pointed out the challenge of performing a piece requiring 96 musicians, which was successfully met. She expressed gratitude for the collaboration of the Almería City Council, as well as the efforts of the musicians, their conductor, Juan José Navarro, and the orchestra coordinator, Macarena Castellary.
The orchestra, established in 2018 for the UAL's 25th anniversary, has achieved significant social integration, offering three concerts annually, tours, and recitals. The university is committed to providing training for musicians through workshops and masterclasses.
The first part of the concert was dedicated to Mozart, featuring the Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor and the Clarinet Concerto in A major, with internationally recognized soloists E-Hyun Huettermann (piano) and Geukchan Lee (clarinet). Following a brief intermission, scholarships for music education were awarded.
The scholarships, funded by the Social Council of the University of Almería, are granted after auditions held at the campus's Paraninfo. The jury was chaired by Mónica de los Ángeles Garrido, director of the 'Julián Arcas' Higher Conservatory of Music, with Elisa Álvarez serving as secretary. The members included Javier Tapias and Salvador Esteve.
Six musicians received scholarships: Daniel Ruiz, Dunia Navarro, Javier Peramo, José Luis Garrido, Julián de Lara, and Rubén Romero. The second part of the concert shifted to the 20th century with Respighi's symphonic poem 'Fiestas Romanas,' performed by the 96 musicians and accompanied by visual projections of its four movements.
