The OMA was created in 1998 by the conductor Francesc Estevez, with the intention of filling a void in the culture of our region.
To bring everyone together, the Orchestra of the Marina Alta works closely with MACMA – the Cultural Association of the Marina Alta, a body composed from the 33 municipalities that make up the region. MACMA fully supports this cultural project, which brings classical music to all people of the region, making it accessible to everyone.
Looking back over its history, the OMA gave its first concert on August 22nd 1998 as part of the 10th International Music Week in Denia, with a performance of Mozart's opera Bastien und Bastienne. To date 450 concerts have been given over all over the region by the two orchestras: the OMA (Orchestra of the Marina Alta) and the JOMA (Youth Orchestra of La Marina Alta). It has supported the training and education of the members of JOMA, as a group in parallel to the OMA. For a regional orchestra it has achieved an impressively high standard.
The Orchestra has performed at the Palau de la Música in Valencia, the Auditorium of the Conservatory of Music of Palma de Mallorca, the Rupert Chapí Theatre of Elda, the Auditorio Joaquin Rodrigo of Sagunto, the Cathedral of Teruel, the International Music Week in Denia, the cycle of Music at the Agustinas in Denia, the programme of Summer Music in Jávea, the International Organ Festival in Pedreguer, the Easter Week Concert Series in Teruel, the season of opera and concerts in Alcoy, and many other venues. Such performances have encouraged and inspired soloists and composers of the region.
OMA has also shared the stage with such renowned soloists as José Sempere, David Menéndez, Carmen Aviva, Isidro Anaya, Ismael Pons, Carlos Moreno, J. A. Alemany, Vicens Prats, Thomas Indermühle, Wolgang Meyer, David Tomás, Joan Enric Lluna, Miquel Pérez, Boris Monoszon, Eriko Takezawa, Eric Aubier, Stephen Burns, Martin Rummel and Josep Vicent Giner.
OMA has recorded various CDs: an Opera Recital with the tenor José Sempere, La Petita Serenada Nocturna KV. 525 and Divertimentos KV 136, 137 and 138 by Mozart, Handel’s Music for royal Fireworks and The water music, Composers of the Marina Alta 1,with compositions by José Mayor, Dolores Sendra and Ferran Ferrando,Trumpet concertos with Jaume Signes and Set Fons, Himne de la Marina Alta by composer Ferran Ferrando.