Orquestra de Sopros da Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (Lisbon College of Music Wind Ensemble)

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

In 2004, at the suggestion of Professors Vasco Pearce de Azevedo and José Massarrão, a project was presented to the Director of the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, ESML (Lisbon College of Music) for the creation of a wind orchestra that would diversify students’ orchestral experience, and provide essential training for wind and percussion instruments. On 19 November of that year the newly created ESML Wind Orchestra was presented, under the direction of the project’s author, Maestro Alberto Roque. Since then, the orchestra has developed its activity for the comprehensive academic training of ESML students, especially through the practice of the specific repertoire of the best-known composers for wind orchestra, of all different periods and styles. In addition to its pedagogical objectives, ESML Wind Orchestra has developed projects that provide students with contact with the national and international musical scene, both through concerts, and also by inviting internationally recognized conductors in this area. In this respect the orchestra has already performed in several national concert halls, as well as presenting itself in 2009 in Stuttgart and Mannheim, on its first international tour. One of the main objectives of the orchestra has been the creation of new works by Portuguese composers and the premiering in Portugal of works by highly acclaimed foreign composers. The orchestra was responsible for premieres in Portugal of works by composers such as Karel Husa, Percy Grainger, András Sebestyén, Edson Beltrami, Eva Lopzsic, Luis Nani, Jesús Santandreu, among many others. An invitation from the Dutch publisher Molenaar Editions, led to the recording of two CDs: "Skies" and "Reflections", both receiving critical acclaim by international experts in the area. A new CD, comprising works by Portuguese composers, professors and students of ESML, has been recorded recently for the mpmp/ESML label. This project involved some of the works forming the first group of commissions of works for wind orchestra, created to mark the 10th anniversary of the orchestra in 2014.

Orquestra de Sopros da Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (Lisbon College of Music Wind Ensemble)

Conductor's Bio

Alberto Roque began his musical studies at the Artistic and Musical Society of Pousos (SAMP) in Portugal.  He continued his studies at the National Superior Academy of Orchestra in Lisbon, where he, studied Orchestral Conducting with Jean-Marc Burfin.  In 1998, he won first prize in the International Contest of Oriental Foundation for Young Conductors of Orchestra.  In 2001 he achieved his "Perfeccionement" in Orchestral Conducting with Jean-Sébastien Béreau, at the Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau established in Dijon, France.??Since 2004, Mr. Roque has been conductor of the Lisbon College of Music Wind Ensemble.  During his time at the college, he has created a Wind Conducting Class and the Chamber winds "Camerata de Sopros Silva Dionísio", with which he recorded the first CD “New Harmoniemusik”, with works premiered by the camerata. He is also a guest conductor of the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa and Orquestra do Algarve, Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras, Orquestra Sinfónica da ESART, Brass and Percussion Section of the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa and conducted many soloists including Claude Delangle (France), James Houlik (USA), Pedro Carneiro (Portugal), Mário Laginha & Maria João (Portugal), and Roger Hodgson (Supertramp).?From 2009 to 2011 he was member of the Artistic Planning Committee of WASBE´s 15th Conference – Chiayi City, Taiwan, and he is actually member of the same committee for the next conference in Uthech (The Nederland) in 2017. In July 2015, he was the conductor invited to the Conducting Masterclass of WASBE Conference in S. José, California. He is a founding member of Saxofínia Saxophone Quartet and project “concert for Babies” of Musicalmente Company.