I started singing when I was nine years old. I joined the local choir in Gemunde's S. Roque's Chapel. I was apparently good and had no fear of singing solo. This took me to learn music at my city's, Maia, main church and joining the main children's choir. Again, I was offered to sing many of the solos which I did with pleasure and duty.
Voice braking was a very disturbing experience. I was loosing my precious young voice and I had no idea what was going to happen - fears that persist with me to this day.
I joined Maia's amateur choir Coro Municipal da Maia, I believe I was 14! My voice had settled very quickly and I was now a tenor! I did and I still do miss my angelic voice but I was not to be the next Farinelli, so better be the next Pavarotti!
Maia's was opening his own music conservatoire and I was one of the very first batch. It was difficult. As my teacher said "you think you can sing but you know nothing". This would start the pressure for being better, to be the best.
AT 16 I auditioned to the Conservatorio de Musica do Porto, one of the most prestigious school in Portugal. I was 5th placed in a total of around 350 students!
I loved Porto's conservatoire. I've worked hard under the tutoring of Cecilia Fontes in singing and Maria de Lurdes Alves at Harpsichord.
[more soon]
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