Numskull Brass Festival Caudete is a non-profit association focused on music for brass instruments. It was founded in 2015 by trombonist Ricardo Mollá, who has served as president since then, and has become a well-established institution that promotes and spreads culture. By reaching new audiences, it seeks to give voice and recognition to artists, bringing together an audience eager to enjoy their valuable work. captación de nuevas audiencias busca dar voz y reconocimiento a los artistas, reuniendo un público dispuesto a disfrutar su valioso trabajo.
Every year it organizes a summer course, a week-long festival that brings together more than one hundred students and a group of top-level teachers, now approaching its twelfth edition. It takes place in Caudete, a town in Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), and includes masterclasses, concerts, talks, and activities. Musicians of the highest level take part, offering examples that serve as models and inspiration for new generations. Instrumentalists from the world’s most prestigious orchestras and international soloists have participated.
During the festival, a different themed concert is held every night, known as the “Night Concert Series.” In these concerts, professors and guest artists showcase their skills in performances such as Brass Night, Virtuosos, Candle Night, or the Soloists’ Concert. The iconic Arenas de Caudete bullring serves as the stage, specially prepared for the occasion with full sound, lighting, and staging equipment. These concerts are highly anticipated by the audience, who often sell out all available tickets.
The repertoire performed varies according to the theme, ranging from original classical works for the instrument to premieres, arrangements, adaptations, and versions of other pieces, covering all kinds of musical genres. The works of Ricardo Mollá are frequently performed and highly valued by both musicians and audiences. In addition, the program includes works written for different ensembles, from solo pieces to piano duos, chamber groups, brass ensembles, wind band and symphony orchestra, jazz combos, and much more.
The arrangements by Juan Antonio Mollá, who has been part of the festival’s organization since its beginnings, are performed every year, sometimes filling entire concerts such as the themed Candle Night, and forming a regular part of the repertoire in others. These creations allow artists to perform pieces that were not originally adapted for their instrument.
Through the website www.juanmolla.com/store you can find the catalog of arrangements created for the Numskull Brass Festival and purchase them in the store. In addition, you can suggest an adaptation of a piece to Juan through the contact section, request a work that is not listed on the page, or commission a new arrangement.
