The Mallorcans

With a series of video portraits, TV journalist Sibylle Tiessen takes us on a captivating journey into a world full of exciting projects, cultural diversity and authentic stories on Mallorca. Supported by the TUI Care Foundation, TUI and Majorca Daily Bulletin, viewers learn more about the island from a whole new perspective, from inspiring stories of locals to social, artistic, ecological, scientific and political aspects.

Resilience and harmony: the Mallorcan trumpeter - Bernat Xamen's journey

Bernat Xamena's journey into the world of music began at the age of six when he first picked up a trumpet in his hometown of Porreres. Despite having no familial musical background, he expressed his desire to study music, setting the stage for a remarkable journey that unfolded over the years.

Now 47, Xamena's commitment to his craft led him to the Spanish National Youth Orchestra at 16, where he was a member for five years. His dedication led him to graduate with top honors in trumpet from the Conservatory of Music in Valencia at a young age and secure a spot in the Palma Symphony Orchestra at 17.

However, the peak of his career was met with an unexpected challenge—focal embouchure dystonia. The disorder disrupted his fine motor skills crucial for trumpet mastery. But he didn’t give up and fought his way back.

In addition to the support of his family and musician friends, he was helped above all by sport. “Sport saved me.” He began to take part in triathlons. With a lot of perseverance and discipline, he qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in 2018.

Find out more in the video bellow: