The Ataúlfo Argenta Municipal Professional Conservatory in Santander will celebrate Santa Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, on 18 November with a concert featuring its students and various musical groups from the institution. The event will take place at 19:00 in the Juan de Santander Civic Centre and will showcase a varied programme that includes classical piano pieces, chamber music, as well as jazz and rock performances.
Noemí Méndez, the Councillor for Culture, extended her congratulations to the entire educational community of the Conservatory in honour of Santa Cecilia, highlighting the dedication of students, teachers, and families who support young musicians in their training. “Santa Cecilia is a special occasion to recognise the effort, perseverance, and enthusiasm of those who dedicate countless hours to learning music. I want to congratulate the students and teachers for their daily work and for sharing the results of that dedication with the public,” she stated.
Méndez also emphasised the importance of such events, which allow students to gain stage experience and bring the work done in classrooms closer to the community. The programme will begin with two piano performances by Sol Flor Wainschenker, who will play Beethoven's Sonata Pathétique, Op. 13, and Marcos Teisanu Sánchez, who will perform Chopin's Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20. Following this, a string quartet comprising Virginia Bustamante Trueba, Paula Lobo Cebada, Virginia Vía Pérez, and Laura Obregón Antón will perform Nachtviolen by Franz Schubert, arranged by E. Fine, and the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, arranged by Gustard.
The trumpet ensemble, directed by Miguel Ángel Duart Gómez and featuring Pablo Toca Murillo, Sara Ortega García, Marcos Mateu Maza, Diego Ocejo Curto, and Alejandro Trueba Crespo, will present the Triumph March from Aida by Giuseppe Verdi. The Elementary Education Band, under the direction of Pedro Ruiz Ibáñez, will perform Bandissimo by Anne McGinty and Bang the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren, arranged by Michael Story. Meanwhile, the Conservatory's Big Band, led by Antonio Gutiérrez Llata, will entertain the audience with a jazz repertoire including Strike Up the Band, arranged by Sammy Nestico; C Jam Blues by Duke Ellington; Sweet Georgia Brown, also arranged by Nestico; and Spain by Chick Corea. The concert will conclude with a performance by the Professional Education Band, also directed by Gutiérrez Llata, featuring Voice of the Vikings by Michael Geisler and Bon Jovi - Rock Mix, arranged by Wolfgang Wössner.
The Municipal Music Band of Santander will also participate in the Santa Cecilia celebrations with the concert titled Raíces: La música que nace de la tierra (Roots: The music that comes from the land), scheduled for 20 November at 20:00 in the San Francisco parish. This performance is part of the 2026 Autumn Cycle and will offer a musical journey through compositions that evoke traditions, cultural identity, and popular roots through band repertoire. The programme will include La procesión del Rocío by Joaquín Turina, arranged by Alfred Reed; El racó de l’or by S. Gómez; Suite Céltica by J. Vicente Egea; Rua da Fonte by A. Alcalde; and Yakka by J. R. Pascual-Vilaplana. Councillor Méndez has also congratulated the members of the Municipal Band for their dedication and commitment to the musical activities in Santander.
