The Amigos de Música (Friends of Music) held their annual general meeting, attended by more than half of the 105 members, at the Centro Cultural in São Lourenço on Monday, November 26.
This Association of Friends of Music can look back on 22 years of successful activity in bringing world-class artists to the Algarve in a great enrichment to the cultural scene and to classical music enjoyment. This year, the association’s officers were elected for another two years.
Helga Hampton has again taken over the leadership of the association after the passing of past President Barry Shaw last May. She reassured the assembled Amigos of the continuity of their club regardless of trying times, and presented an inspiring musical programme with artists of great renown for the coming months until the end of the present membership year (June 2013). She also thanked the members for their generous support of the Amigos sponsorship programme of young Portuguese artists, which is an important part of the society’s activities.
 The Amigos’ officers were elected for another two years |
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The present protégée is a young pianist, Beatriz Ferreira, whose studies at the Royal College of Music in London are partially funded by the Amigos. And, as has become tradition, Beatriz gave the assembly a demonstration of her progress following the business part of the AGM. She chose for her recital a programme of music by Beethoven, Shostakovitch and Chopin. As a very special occasion, Helga Hampton announced the Barry Shaw Memorial Concert that the Amigos are planning for Sunday, January 27 2013 at the Centro Cultural at 1pm, when Paul Crossley will play some of Barry Shaw’s favourite piano music.
