Date
05/04/2025

The ESART Percussion Group, under the artistic direction of Professor André Dias, held an inspiring artistic residency at the Fábrica da Criatividade in Castelo Branco between 31 March and 5 April. The project included the collaboration of prestigious composer Vasco Mendonça and renowned cinematographer João Pedro Plácido.

During the week, the group was involved in various activities of great artistic importance:

Recording of a tutorial for the documentary Opera Now, by Vasco Mendonça, to be shown by RTP, Mezzo and Medici. tv;

Video recording of the work “Small Print”, commissioned by the PercuArt Festival and premiered by ESART in 2024;

Intensive preparation for the Beira Interior International Percussion Festival and PercuArt 25;

Pedagogical visit by the percussion class from the Castelo Branco Regional Conservatory, accompanied by Professor Vasco Fazendeiro.

The residency culminated in an enthusiastically applauded concert on 5 April at 6pm, with works by Vasco Mendonça, Pedro Lima, António Pinho Vargas, Timothy Ferchen and António Chagas Rosa. Part of this programme will be performed again at the Covilhã Municipal Theatre on April 14 at 7pm, as part of the Beira Interior International Percussion Festival.

Also noteworthy is the audio recording of ‘Small Print’, made at Timbuktu Studios in Lisbon on 21 March.

The group is made up of Amadeu Lança, Diogo Pinto, Francisco Teixeira, Ismael Gouveia, Jaime Pereira, Manuel Dias, Nádia Oliveira, Rodrigo Loureiro and Tiago Pessoa, all students in the percussion class taught by André Dias and Bruno Costa.