Ezequiel Arrais

Ezequiel Arrais was born on 7 February 2001 in Castelo Branco. He began his musical studies at the age of 11 at the Castelo Branco Regional Conservatory and joined the organ class of Lídia Correia, where he completed the 8th grade of the high-school instrument course in the 2019/2020 academic year. His musical activity as an organist is marked by various auditions, activities, concerts, and competitions, which have contributed to the development of his interpretive experience and his interest in performing in educational and community contexts. On the other hand, as part of the Ensemble Class, he recorded the CD “Charadas da Bicharada” with the Vox Mini and Vox Mix choirs, and participated in its promotion in various locations around the country.

He recently obtained a degree in Musicology from the New University of Lisbon – Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, where he conducted two research projects in the field of music production and public reception: “Formação na base da fruição: Festival Internacional de Música da Póvoa de Varzim (2012–2022)”and “A visão de compositores portugueses sobre a audiência de música erudita contemporânea: do pós-revolução de 1974 ao final do século XX em Portugal”.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Historical Musicology, and has been exploring music programming practices and cultural policies in Portugal. His research focuses on understanding the musical life of a decentralised city, taking Castelo Branco as a specific case study, seeking to contribute to a reflection on the role of local cultural institutions in stimulating artistic life.