LAGOS Cultural Centre was buzzing with barely contained excitement as the Music Academy of Lagoa and the Portimão Music Conservatory presented recently, for the first time, their Suzuki violin students, aged three and above. The performance was a success and the 32 students bowed to an enthusiastic ovation from an audience who beamed with pride and delight as the little musicians got into their positions and produced Minuetos by Bach, famous tunes from Mozart and Suzuki, and popular folk themes on their minute violins.
Their teachers, Prof. João Pedro Cunha, a well-known violinist and director of the Portimão Music Conservatory, led the students, with Prof. Greg Morelli accompanying some of the pieces. At the piano were Amélia Viegas and Teresa Brandão.
The violin Suzuki programme, sometimes called the mother tongue of method, has 45 students in the Academy of Lagos and the music conservatories of Portimão and Lagoa. Presently, the three music institutions have approximately 180 students, ranging in ages, abilities and musical interests.
Ballet and modern dance are also offered at the conservatories and 25 students from the Academy of Lagos also had their debut in the second part of the programme.
The growing number of interested students on the waiting lists has prompted Lagos Câmara to finance the use of the second floor on the existing Academy of Lagos building which is to be completed next year.
• For the concert schedule or enquiries about the programme offered at these music schools, contact the conservatories at Lagos on 282 082 786 or 919 804 662, Portimão on 282 414 906 or 912 502 003, and Lagoa on 282 085 842 or 912 502 004.
