Ana Maria Franco, Ana Praguento and João Nogueira (Music Practice UC: World Music from the Musicology undergraduate programme) invite Pedro Branco and Marco Oliveira (and whoever else wants to join them) in a celebration of April with songs by José Mário Branco.

Pedro Branco (n.1965): voice and guitar
Teacher, poet and musician. Like his father, the singer-songwriter came from Paris with the Revolution. He is an elementary school teacher like his grandfather, but the Oficina do Drama in the Comuna and the Bombo da Festa, a Portuguese popular music group, broadened his civic participation. He released “Amor” in 2023, his second album.

Marco Oliveira (n. 1988): voice, guitar and piano

Composer, poet and musician. Studied classical guitar at the National Conservatory and attended the Faculty of Letters at the University of Lisbon. With roots in fado and Lisbon, he sings of love and melancholy in the “Streets and Memories” of his city. This third album was the last produced by José Mário Branco, who is also responsible for the arrangements and musical direction.

Ana Maria Franco (n. 2001): voice
She first started on the saxophone at the age of seven and still plays at the Vila Franca do Rosário Recreational and Musical Society.
She came from her hometown to Lisbon to study lyric singing at the Academia dos Amadores de Música in 2018 and is now pursuing a degree in Musicology.

Ana Praguento (n. 2001): clarinet
Teacher and clarinetist, she started at the age of 11 in the Progresso Matos Galamba Philharmonic Society. Originally from Alcácer do Sal, she has a degree in musical sciences and is studying for a master’s degree in music education to continue working with children.

João Nogueira (n.1960): double bass, guitar and voice
Professor of educational psychology at NOVA FCSH, he has been travelling the world playing double bass, guitar and singing since the Revolution. Through these practices, he presents the second version of “Consolida, filho, consolida” as part of the course he teaches.