Paco Viciana

RESUMED CURRICULUM

Paco Viciana was born in Barcelona in 1964 and grew up in a family environment that fostered a love of music. Son of a classical-music-loving father and a mother who sang in several choirs of the city, they instilled in him a deep curiosity for the world of sound.

His first profound musical impression came when, as a young child, he heard Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony for the first time — a work he then listened to repeatedly for weeks. Later, frequent visits to concerts at the Palau de la Música Catalana and a wide record collection further nurtured his musical development.

He began his musical studies at the school that prepared students to enter the Escolania de Montserrat, in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, and continued at the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Barcelona. Later, as an independent student, he completed examinations in several conservatories in Catalonia, such as the Professional Conservatory of Music of Badalona and the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory of Girona.

His curiosity for music and all that surrounds it led him to complement his classical studies with courses in diverse disciplines such as jazz and musicology. Among his most notable teachers are Joan Salses and Joan Rubinat (piano), and Benet Casablancas and Miquel Sunyer (composition, harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration). In 1987 he founded a music school in Besalú (Garrotxa) and later in Banyoles (Pla de l’Estany), where he eventually settled while continuing his musical career in Barcelona.

Paco’s great passion is composition, with more than 400 works in his catalogue, spanning a wide range of styles including symphonic music, oratorio, chamber music, ballet, song, film music, and opera. Some of his works have been recorded in more than 30 albums.

Artists such as Paul Winter have praised his music: “... it is refreshing to hear instrumental music of such elegance.”

He has received several awards for his compositions, such as the Manel Saderra Prize for symphonic cobla on multiple occasions, and more recently the Max Award for Best Musical Theatre Show for his a cappella arrangements of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

He has performed at various music festivals throughout the country, such as the Porta Ferrada International Festival, the (a)phònica Voice Festival of Banyoles, the Vic Live Music Market, and the Barcelona International Music Festival, among many others.

He currently resides in Banyoles.

FULL CURRICULUM

MUSICAL EDUCATION

Classically trained composer. Between 1976 and 1994 he studies and trains at the Municipal Superior Conservatory of Music of Barcelona, the Professional Conservatory of Badalona, the Barcelona School of Music (founded by the Claret Brothers with Benet Casablancas), the Zeleste School in Barcelona, the Aula de Música Moderna i Jazz, and the Music Therapy School of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

TEACHING ACTIVITY (1987–1999)

From 1987 to 1999 he teaches courses, classes, lectures and guided listenings at:

• El Sol Fa La Vida Music School (Besalú) – founder and director
• Modern and Jazz Music School of Banyoles
• Olot School of Art
• ERAM University School (Girona)

From 2021:

• Creates a pedagogical method for adults called Five Fingers which he uses to give Musical Creation Workshops and Piano Classes in his studio

PREMIERED WORKS AND PRODUCTIONS (Selection)

Mira com sonen, Entre poc i massa, La nit del llamp, Concert poètic a la dona, Nickelodeon, Lorca, Viatges imaginaris, L'Amor a la Vida, Mirades, Música per les ones, Dones d'aigua (Ballet), Transitant, Llunàtics, Memòria d’aigua, Després de tot, La cúpula dels somnis (Ballet), Estany (Opening show of the Banyoles Rowing World Championships), Tanausú (for symphony orchestra and choir, commissioned by the Island Council of La Palma), Ulls de bruixa, Iris, L’autisme del jo, Coll de Roses (Museu del Vi de Roses, commissioned by Espelt), La Flauta Màgica & Trilogia MozArt (a cappella vocal arrangements of Mozart operas for the theatre company Dei Furbi), Dones d’aigua (The Show) (coproduction of Amics de l’Òpera de Girona), Concert de piano al claustre, Concert de Col·laboradors, L’illa de les dones (Geriona choir in Oh Happy Day, TVC), Memòries de l'exili, Companys president, Humans (with photography by Tino Soriano), Puges o baixes (chamber opera), La llum dins l'aigua, Onírica…

MEDIA COLLABORATIONS

Radio

• Weekly collaborator (2000–2003) at El pont de les formigues (Catalunya Ràdio), hosted by Martí Gironell.

Television

• Music for the TV series Dalí a la carta (2004), Canal Paradís.

FESTIVALS AND PERFORMANCE VENUES

He has performed at:

• Centre Artesà Tradicionarius (Barcelona)
• Mercat de Música Viva (Vic)
• Barcelona International Music Festival (L’Auditori)
• Temporada Alta (Salt)
• Festival Porta Ferrada (Sant Feliu de Guíxols)
• International Festival of New Music (L'Espluga de Francolí)
• International Festival of Music and Dance (Les Presses)
• Nits al Museu (Girona Art Museum)
• Baix Penedès Music Festival
• Bisbal d’Empordà Music Festival
• Sant Gregori Autumn Festival
• Malgrat Music Festival
• MOT Festival
• Girona Auditorium
• Barcelona Coliseum
• Banyoles Voice Festival (a)phònica

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Composition for symphonic cobla

• Estany (choir and cobla) – Runner-up
• Mites de Catalunya (harp, percussion, singer and two coblas) – Second Prize
• Mediterrània (piano and cobla) – First Prize

As arranger

• MAX Award 2014 for Best Musical Theatre Production (La Flauta Màgica – Variacions Dei Furbi)

THEATRE

Musical direction and composition

• Don Quijote de la Mancha (1987) – musical by Mitch Leigh
• Quin jove més embalat (1991) – songs for Eugène Labiche’s play
• El malalt imaginari (1994) – music for Molière’s play
• Ulls de bruixa (2009) – music for Joan Solana’s play

A cappella vocal arrangements (Dei Furbi)

• La Flauta Màgica – Variacions Dei Furbi (2013)
• Trilogia MozArt – Cosí fan Dei Furbi (2014)
• Oklahoma

Other collaborations

• Imparables – a cappella arrangements for Quartet Melt
• Music for Et après ils partent en silence… (Melondrum Theatre)

FILM

Original music for Whisky curt (1996), Ressons (1995), El pollo Tejada (1996), Serres Nues i Agudes (1994), Poema Blanc (1999), Entelèquia (1999), Pertinença (2015), Transacció (2007), Cafè pendent (2007), L’autisme del jo (2008), Eclosió-Oclusió (2011), El mòbil del crim (2009), Y el cine marcha (2008), La vella llei (2007), Candela (2015), Lolo Rico (la mirada no inventada) (2014), El Sabater d’Ordis, among others.

DISCOGRAPHY (Selection)

Tanae (1995), Cada veu un petó (1996), Que giri rodó (1997), El amor a la vida (1997), Propostes musicals Banyoles (1998), Espais naturals de Catalunya (1998–2000), Besalú ara i sempre (2000), Mirades (2002), Les 4 estacions a Catalunya (2002), La Cantoria – de l’11 al 21 (2002), Memòria d’aigua (2002), Emociona’t-e (2003), Dones d’aigua (2003), Sons dels Dolors (2004), 5 anys en escena (2005), De canya i de canons (2006), Compositors de Girona (2008), Iris (2009), Convidats (2011), Geriona – La veu feta emoció (2014), Una mirada enrere (2015)…

RECENT AND CURRENT PROJECTS

2023

• Presents Onírica at the Ateneu de Banyoles Auditorium, with photographs and audiovisuals by Anna Bahí and narration by Lluís Soler.

2024

• Premieres Somnis d’aigua with tenor Eduard Mas, photography by Anna Bahí, staging by Ángel Amieva, and participation of Joan Nogué.
• Participates as facilitator in Girona s’omple de pianos (Maria Canals Competition – Fundació Occident).

2025

• Creates El Temple de la Llum, an oratorio for mixed choir, youth choir, soloists, organ and instrumental ensemble, in collaboration with visual artist Anna Bahí, inspired by the relationship between Nature and sacred spaces such as the Sagrada Família.