On March 9, 2025, the welcoming ‘Artea Lab’ hosted the world premiere of Resiliencia, a modern classical work composed by Belinda Reynolds. The concert, held in front of a packed and discerning audience, was a powerful celebration of strength, renewal, and the enduring power of the human spirit in difficult times. Through a series of evocative compositions, Resiliencia paid tribute to the city of Valencia, particularly highlighting its recovery and resilience following the devastating DANA floods of 2024.

Belinda Reynolds is an internationally recognized composer and educator whose works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded worldwide. Known for her ability to blend contemporary sounds with classical elements, Reynolds’ music has graced prestigious stages like Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series in New York City. Currently based in Valencia, Reynolds continues to inspire audiences and students alike with her artistry and teaching. Indeed, her charismatic presentation of each piece of the work was by turns informative and evocative.

Meet the Musicians: the concert featured a diverse ensemble of talented musicians from around the world, including:

• Nazan Aktas (USA/Turkey): A cellist, singer, and composer known for blending Western classical music with Hindustani influences.
• Millicent McFall (USA): A celebrated pianist with accolades from the Seattle International Piano Competition.
• Joana Carvalhas (Portugal): A versatile violinist and educator, known as The Tiny Musician.
• Santiago Bertel (Colombia): A pianist and composer whose work fuses Latin rhythms with classical and jazz influences.
• Alex Farrar (USA): A saxophonist whose music explores themes like climate change.
• Drew Keeve (USA): A viola player pushing boundaries with experimental techniques.
• Karlheinz Hoeflich (Germany): A trumpet virtuoso known for his precision and passion.
• Valerijs Ivanov (Latvia): An electric violinist dedicated to exploring new musical terrains.
• Noelia C. Martinez (Spain): A flautist specialising in Baroque music with a deep connection to Valencia.

The Programme The concert showcased a rich selection of compositions by Belinda Reynolds, each exploring different facets of human experience and emotion. Highlights included:

• Cover: Featuring flute, cello, and piano, this piece created a sense of layering and depth, demonstrating Reynolds’ skill in weaving intricate musical narratives.
• Husband: Performed by violin, viola, and cello, this composition, inspired by a Kerrin McCadden poem, delved into the complexities of marriage and relationships.
• TV by the Curb: Another work inspired by McCadden’s poetry, this piece beautifully illustrated themes of memory and loss.
• Share: Featuring Karlheinz Hoeflich on trumpet and Belinda Reynolds on piano, this piece offered a minimalist yet impactful arrangement, showcasing Hoeflich’s skill and control.
• Aim (World Premiere): Performed by Alex Farrar (alto saxophone), Joana Carvalhas (violin), and Millicent McFall (piano), this energetic piece captivated the audience with its archery-inspired rhythmic precision.
• Resilient 1 – 4 (World Premiere): Valerijs Ivanov’s electric violin performance was a standout, offering a haunting and hopeful tribute to Valencia’s recovery from the floods.
• Over and Out: The concert concluded with this vibrant ensemble piece, highlighting the Grupo Resiliencia de Valencia’s dynamic and cohesive sound.

Conclusion The Resiliencia concert was more than a musical event—it was a testament to the power of art to reflect and heal communities. Via Belinda Reynolds’ thoughtful compositions and the exceptional performances by the international cast of musicians, the evening resonated with themes of resilience and hope, leaving the audience both moved and inspired. Indeed, it was truly an uplifting experience.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

All photos copyright Phillip Solomonson/ ’24/7 Valencia’

More info:

RESILIENCIA

Compositions by Belinda Reynolds

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Belinda Reynolds, Producer

Candice Pacheco, Associate Producer

Josep Lopez Vázquez, Assistant Producer

Thomas Coy: Sound
Jenavy Santana and Gustavo Fuentes: Video
Josep Lopez Vaquez: Photography
Candice Pacheco: Graphic Design
Social Media Manager: Esther Mur
Production Assistants: Alicia, Ester & Valeria Mur

Grateful acknowledgment to:

DANA Volunteers and Emergency Responders

Sheila West at All About You

Xavi and Alberto and everyone at Artea Lab

Julio Di Yorio Cuesta at RussafaRadio

David Pasichynk and Lina Castrovinci

Simone Carlos Arnao – International Community Valencia

Special thanks to our Sponsor –ACTING IN ENGLISH (www.actinginenglish.es)

¨At Acting in English, we provide a variety of interactive drama and language classes designed to inspire creativity, boost confidence, and enhance communication skills for both children and adults.¨

About the Composer

 Belinda Reynolds is an internationally recognized composer and educator whose works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded
worldwide. Her music has been featured in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series in New York City. Belinda has been published and recorded worldwide by numerous labels and publishers. Based in Valencia, Spain, she teaches composition and piano to students of all ages and levels, both locally and internationally, continuing to inspire through her music and teaching. For more information and to sign up for lessons, go to: www.belindareynolds.com

PROGRAMME

Compositions by Belinda Reynolds

RESILIENCIA – a concert inspired by strength, renewal, and the enduring human spirit Featuring music that explores themes of personal loss, transformation, and resilience, RESILIENCIA celebrates Valencia—its beauty, its recovery after the DANA floods, and the diverse international community of musicians who live and work here.

COVER – Flute, Cello and Piano
Composed in 1996 for Continuum Contemporary Music, takes its name from how the opening material enshrouds, overlays, and masks two other musical statements.

HUSBAND – Violin, Viola and Cello
Based on Kerrin McCadden’s poem, this piece explores the complexities of marriage—its roles, dynamics, and expectations. The music mirrors this journey, shifting fluidly through love, hope, pain, silence, and joy, expressing the ever-changing emotional landscape

TV BY THE CURB – Violin, Viola and Cello
Inspired by another Kerrin McCadden poem, this piece explores memory, loss, and the meaning we give to discarded things. A curbside TV, once part of a yard sale, becomes a window into fleeting lives, imagined stories, and the struggle to hold on to what fades.

SHARE – Trumpet and Piano
SHARE explores how the opening material overlays and masks two musical statements. Inspired by Stravinsky’s Le Cinque Doigts, it is spare yet demanding. Dedicated to my great-aunt Shyron, this new arrangement premieres tonight for KarlHeinz Hoeflich.

AIM – Alto Saxophone, Violin and Piano (World Premiere)
Composed for members of Grupo Resiliencia, it takes its name from the way melodic, harmonic and rhythmic riffs dart forward with relentless energy—much like aiming in archery. Dedicated to Alejandro Lépez Pérez, whose strength and resilience inspire me.

RESILIENT 1 – 4 – Solo Electric Violin (World Premiere)
Composed specifically for Valerijs Ivanov, Resilient is dedicated to the victims of the DANA floods that devastated Valencia in 2024. The music reflects both the storm’s force and the community’s strength in its wake—a journey through loss and resilience.

OVER AND OUT – Grupo Resiliencia de Valencia
Fifths and canons—two timeless musical elements—blend in Over and Out, where shifting fifths and layered canons share melody and harmony. Composed in 1996, this newly arranged version premiered this month with Grupo Resiliencia de Valencia, unfolding seamlessly until it’s over and out.