Augusto Mesquita

Maestro

Founding conductor of Alma de Coimbra, in 2006, he is the author of all the musical arrangements of this group, a selection he makes exclusively from Lusophone music.

He began his training in Braga, with composer Manuel Faria. While attending the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra, he pursued musical studies. He graduated in Piano and Composition from the Conservatório de Música de Lisboa. Later, he dedicated himself to Choir and Orchestra Direction, attending several courses in these areas.

He has dedicated himself to cultural programming, has held several positions in school management in general public education, specialized music education, and has been a consultant for the Ministry of Education.

He was President of the Board of the Music Conservatory of Coimbra from 1994 to 1999, also teaching piano, orchestra and ensemble classes. He directed and composed for the Coro dos Antigos Orfeonistas da Universidade de Coimbra from 1992 to 2003 and for the Corais do Orfeão de Leiria from 2004 to 2009.

He is conductor of the Choir "Advocal", of the Regional Council of Coimbra of the Bar Association, since its foundation in late 2002. In August 2003 he took over the artistic direction of the Orquestra dos Antigos Tunos da Universidade de Coimbra and, in 2008, of the Orquestra de Tangos de Coimbra.

He also directs the "Cantemus" - Youth Choir of the Cantanhede Municipality, which he founded in 2008. More recently he is also conductor of the "Chorus Ingenium", created in the Center Delegation of the Ordem dos Engenheiros.

As guest conductor he has conducted several orchestras and choirs, both Portuguese and foreign, holding a large number of exhibitions throughout the five continents.

At the invitation of the then President of the Assembly of the Republic, Dr. António de Almeida Santos, he harmonized and directed the themes for the ceremony of the transfer of Amália Rodrigues to the National Pantheon, in July 2001.

He was Artistic Director of the Coimbra Music Festival during its last eight editions. He holds the AMI Diploma of Honor, among other distinctions, and on June 10, 1997 he was awarded the degree of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by His Excellency the President of the Republic.

Augusto Mesquita

Maestro

Founding conductor of Alma de Coimbra, in 2006, he is the author of all the musical arrangements of this group, a selection he makes exclusively from Lusophone music.

He began his training in Braga, with composer Manuel Faria. While attending the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra, he pursued musical studies. He graduated in Piano and Composition from the Conservatório de Música de Lisboa. Later, he dedicated himself to Choir and Orchestra Direction, attending several courses in these areas.

He has dedicated himself to cultural programming, has held several positions in school management in general public education, specialized music education, and has been a consultant for the Ministry of Education.

He was President of the Board of the Music Conservatory of Coimbra from 1994 to 1999, also teaching piano, orchestra and ensemble classes. He directed and composed for the Coro dos Antigos Orfeonistas da Universidade de Coimbra from 1992 to 2003 and for the Corais do Orfeão de Leiria from 2004 to 2009.

He is conductor of the Choir "Advocal", of the Regional Council of Coimbra of the Bar Association, since its foundation in late 2002. In August 2003 he took over the artistic direction of the Orquestra dos Antigos Tunos da Universidade de Coimbra and, in 2008, of the Orquestra de Tangos de Coimbra.

He also directs the "Cantemus" - Youth Choir of the Cantanhede Municipality, which he founded in 2008. More recently he is also conductor of the "Chorus Ingenium", created in the Center Delegation of the Ordem dos Engenheiros.

As guest conductor he has conducted several orchestras and choirs, both Portuguese and foreign, holding a large number of exhibitions throughout the five continents.

At the invitation of the then President of the Assembly of the Republic, Dr. António de Almeida Santos, he harmonized and directed the themes for the ceremony of the transfer of Amália Rodrigues to the National Pantheon, in July 2001.

He was Artistic Director of the Coimbra Music Festival during its last eight editions. He holds the AMI Diploma of Honor, among other distinctions, and on June 10, 1997 he was awarded the degree of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by His Excellency the President of the Republic.

EN