JUAN MANUEL MOLINA MILLÀ
Juan Manuel Molina Millá (Agost, 1940-2018) began his musical studies at the hand of his father D. Juan Molina Payá, maestro director of the band Unión Musical de Agost. His father presented him to the solfeggio exam, in the modality of free enrollment, at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, getting in the same call all solfeggio courses with outstanding.
He studied trumpet in Madrid privately, taking the exam at the conservatory with free enrollment in all courses. The last year of his career he studied at the Conservatorio Óscar Esplá in Alicante, where he obtained the qualification of Outstanding with Honor, a diploma that he received from the hand of D. Óscar Esplá with his signature on it.
As a trumpet player he came to occupy a prominent place in the profession, touring throughout the country and much of abroad. He shared the stage with relevant national and foreign artists: Henry Mancini, Liza Minelly, Augusto Algueró, Pedro Iturralde and José Torregrosa among others.
He attends important works in television recordings, shows and festivals.
He studied Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue, Composition and Instrumentation. His work as a composer is wide and diverse; he composes hymns, procession marches, pasodobles, vocal music, for choirs, etc. He has won prizes in national competitions.
As for his facet as director of the Sociedad Filarmonica Unión Musical de Agost, in 1977 during the month of May, the Society pays a tribute to the former director and great promoter of music in our town for 47 years D. Juan Molina Payá. He is replaced later by his son Mr. Juan Manuel Molina Milla. In 1978 it takes part in the Contest of the Excma. Diputación, obtaining the first place in the 2nd category, in the first phase, in 1979 and in the same Contest it obtains again the first prize, whose final is celebrated in Rafal (Alicante). In 1982, he took part in the same contest, participating in the first category. Continuing with this work as director until January 1985 where he is preceded by Mr. Adolfo Piñero. Taking up this work again in a second stage from November 1991 to 1992, where he would be followed by Mr. Juan José Cuenca Antón.
His most important work is the Trilogy dedicated to his hometown entitled Cantos de Agost. They are three works that cover almost the totality of the folklore of the town of Agost. La Serenata (Songs to the Virgin), Cants del record (Songs of Labor) and El Rey Moro (popular dances for fun and leisure). The work is well elaborated both harmonically and contrapuntally. The themes are clearly stated and developed with a deep symphonic sense. The work is composed for symphonic band.
