Orquestra Sinfónica do Algarve, or Algarve Symphony Orchestra, is a new cultural organisation created by a group of local professional musicians together with community and cultural agents.
The group “identified a need to increase accessibility for our community and visitors to the major works of the classical musical repertoire and other popular delights”.
The Orquestra Sinfónica do Algarve will provide a home for local talent and a chance for the population of the Algarve to witness the artistic evolution of these young stars and to hear a wealth of rich symphonic music from a full-size orchestra in regular concerts and special seasonal programmes.
Regular outreach programmes will also be held at the association’s headquarters at the parish halls of Santo André (Centro Apostólico, Penina, Portimão). This will consist of instrument instruction and junior orchestra practice to the children of the region, in support of their regular classes, by members of the orchestra in order to “build a strong attachment between the local population and ‘their’ orchestra”.
Another of the organisation’s aims is to offer “post-graduate orchestral training places and pre-professional experience alongside freelance professional colleagues, but particularly providing opportunity to graduates and residents of the Algarve to better represent our community”.
While rehearsal rooms are located in the Portimão area, the orchestra will be a regional asset and concerts will be arranged with every municipal area in appropriate concert spaces and with any other entities and private sector organisations that wish to host special events.
“We are particularly interested in creating special musical moments that attract, entertain, and educate new and diverse audiences and illuminate the regional cultural calendar,” said the association whose president is well-known Algarve conductor Armando Mota.
“Indeed, in the first few years, the orchestra will have to find as many forms as possible of funding to support the programme until the government can be approached for any official financial assistance.”
Thus, local support is being sought from municipal authorities to allow operations and provide concert spaces.
Patrons of various types are welcomed and encouraged, whether as individual members or Friends of the Association, or corporate bodies who would like to be associated with the project, with general donations or even specific funds for the acquisition of instruments or other equipment.
Inaugural concerts of the Orquestra Sinfónica do Algarve will take place on October 1 in the Teatro das Figuras in Faro, and on October 2 in the Palácio dos Congressos, Salgados, Albufeira.
The Faro concert will include the famous Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1 with international soloist Kristina Miller, while the Albufeira concert will feature local artist, international soloist accordionist Gonçalo Pescada.
Concerts are already booked for Christmas and the New Year and into 2022.
For more details of the project and events, contact 968 741 664 or email orquestra.sinfonica.algarve@gmail.com
Photo: OSKAR SCHMIDT
