this VoWeekFestivalTaking place in Villena between 4-7 July, this issue brings together distinguished names of vocal music on the national stage with performances across four key reference groups during the next week. The festival period aligns with the organization of the UA Summer Course Vocal Technique and Song Villena, creating a rich convergence of instruction, performance, and great live singing for attendees.
This exhibition dedicated to vocal music was born in Villena and continues to grow as a hub for advanced technique and expressive singing. The Vocal Technique Course is conducted by the Alicante University Headquarters in the capital Alto Vinalopó as part of the summer program Rafael Altamira, expanding the region’s cultural offerings since 2016.
Originally this was a trio of offerings featuring the CCPink women’s choir, the University of Alicante Headquarters in Villena, and the House of Culture, with Mil Pesetas Jazz Club contributing to the musical life of the City as a catalyst for collaborative performances.
For this edition, the management of the Casa de la Cultura and the CCPink choir organized a concert program that highlights a cappella renditions of beloved songs spanning pop, rock, and traditional genres, echoing the work of the band Melomaniacs and the warmth of the solo voice from the prestigious Barcelona Jazz Orchestra. Susana Sheiman adapts her repertoire to a quartet format for the VoWeek Festival, bringing a refined vocal presence to the stage.
Join the festival on Thursday, July 6 when Aurora Arteaga shines as one of the country’s most influential female voices in vocal jazz. The singer performs with string instruments and a quintet featuring percussion, chords, and a lively rhythm. Arteaga also teaches the Vocal Technique course at the school during the week.
VoWeek Festival will close with Badlands, a Valencia-born band regarded as one of the country’s premier references in regional music. The group is known for its original compositions that draw deeply from North American traditional music while forging a modern sound.
The last edition of VoWeek took place in July 2020, at a time when the first wave of the pandemic had begun to ease. It stood out as one of the first festivals to reopen its doors across the Valencian Community, signaling a return to live music and community gatherings.
The director of the Culture House explained that the festival aims to showcase the human voice as a primary musical instrument. The message was clear: the voice is the first instrument we play, and the program offers four distinct styles where singing remains the central focus while instrumental support enhances vocal expression. The goal is to present a gallery of performances where vocal interpretation leads, and accompaniment serves the artist’s voice.
All concerts are free to attend and will take place in the festive courtyard. Every performance occurs in the same Plaza de Santiago, home to the City Hall and the House of Culture, serving as the central venue for the festival’s activities during the VoWeek period, with performances beginning at 10:30.