André M. Santos

Guitar

"I was born in Lisbon in November 1984. My first degree was in Economics at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2006). After the economics degree, I finished the guitar course at the National Conservatory (2007) and joined the degree in Classical Guitar at the Lisbon Superior School of Music (ESML) where I studied with Piñero Nagy. I went on to finish my guitar degree, as an Erasmus student, at the Manuel Castillho Higher Conservatory (Seville) where I studied with Francisco Sanchez Bernier (2010)."

My passion for Flamenco led me to seek lessons with Pedro Jóia (Lisbon) and later with Óscar Herrero (Madrid). In 2011, I decided to apply for the composition course at ESML where I studied with António Pinho Vargas, Carlos Caires and Luís Tinoco, which I concluded in June 2015.

It was in the Almada City Council (CMA) that I took my first steps in music and, fortunately, the CMA has always supported my journey. I have been part of the resident jury of the Almada National Intervention Music Competition since 2007, in 2011 I received the Young Talent Award from the Almada City Council and I have been organising the Almada Fado Encounters since 2012."

Throughout my career I have performed with several artists all over the world:
Teresa Salgueiro with whom I did the tour "Voltarei à minha terra" (2010-2012); I was musical director of the Mythos Orquestra of the Festival "7 Sóis 7 Luas" (2013-2014) and of the Quórum Ballet in the piece "Correr o Fado"(since 2011); in December 2014 I played as soloist in the Christmas concert of the Coro Gulbenkian;I participated in the opening concert of the 2015 Festa do Avante with the Orquestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa; I work regularly with some names of Portuguese culture such as Mariza, Ricardo Ribeiro, Mísia, Cuca Roseta, Ana Laíns, Carla Pires, Teresa Lopes Alves, Joana Melo, among others.

As a composer I wrote the compulsory piece for the Young Musicians Award 2014 in the accordion category (commission Antena 2 - RTP). I have written for different formations from small chamber music groups to orchestral formations. My music has been played by some of the best Portuguese performers today and have been performed in several countries from the USA to Macau. In 2015 I wrote and premiered the first concerto for 4 guitars and orchestra written by a Portuguese composer, the concerto "Akasha" was premiered by the Lisbon Guitar Quartet and the Lisbon Sinfionietta Orchestra.

Although I have worked in many different projects I have always had the desire to create my own groups where I can explore ideas and languages that I like and work both as a guitarist and composer. Thus, I am part of Melech Mechaya, Quarteto de Guitarras de Lisboa, Mano Quarteto and André Santos & MOB Ensemble.As a Fado guitarist I am a resident musician at the Fado House Mascote da Atalaia in Bairro Alto (Lisbon).

In 2016 I was honoured to receive the award for "best solo flute edition in 2015″ by The National Flute Association of the USA with the piece "O motivo da menina Laite"."

- André M. Santos