Por Pablo Arranz 
The XXXVI edition of the International Music Course in Benidorm brings together nearly a hundred young musicians from all over Europe to enhance their musical knowledge and practice, and share days of coexistence with top-level teachers and other young people with similar interests. Classes, practical sessions, and concerts take place throughout the week at the Municipal Professional Music Conservatory, located in the Cultural Center. The program started last Monday and will continue until tomorrow, Friday, at 9 pm, when the final of the XXVI International Music Competition will take place, this year in the oboe specialty, with the presence of the three finalists and the collaboration of the string trio ‘La Stravaganza’.
As usual in recent years, the Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Councilor for Culture, Jaime Jesús Pérez, along with the director of the International Course, José Antonio Gonzaga, visited the Cultural Center this morning to greet students and teachers and see how classes are progressing in the six instrumental specialties of the year: saxophone, piano, oboe, violin, marimba, and clarinet, taught by teachers of the caliber of Mariano García, Ángel Sanzo, José Luis García Vegara, Miguel Colom, Conrado Moya, and François Brenda.
The Councilor for Culture recalled that in this edition, the organization received a total of 150 applications for the 70 places available, demonstrating «the high quality of this course and the interest of many young people in coming to Benidorm to learn and enjoy a week of music at the highest level.» Thus, Jaime Jesús Pérez pointed out that there were finally 70 active students, with a maximum of 12 per specialty, in addition to about twenty musicians attending as listeners.
Furthermore, the councilor mentioned that this week the activity ‘Classics at 9’ is taking place alongside this International Music Course, with free concerts at the Cultural Center Auditorium until full capacity is reached, offering the guarantee of listening to high-quality music performed by the best professionals. Tonight, at 9 pm, there is a marimba concert scheduled «with the two best marimbists in Europe, who are among the best in the world,» Conrado Moya and Katarzyna Mycka. Tomorrow, Friday, will be the moment of the final of the International Competition in the oboe specialty.
Jaime Jesús Pérez also mentioned that half an hour before each concert, the «Musical Appetizers» are performed by the course students, which have been introduced this year with great success. He encouraged the public to attend and enjoy the two remaining concerts in the program, which are sure to be a success.