Biography
Jorge Gonçalves was born on 3rd March 1983 in Coimbra, Portugal.
EDUCATION
He began his piano studies in September 1992 in the Regional Conservatory of Tomar, Portugal, with prof. Joaquim Branco.
In October 1993 he returned to Coimbra to continue piano studies at the Conservatory of Music in Coimbra. Over the next eight years, he worked with Professor Isilda Margarida, where he finished the General Course of Piano in June 2001. During this period also studied French horn between 1995 and 2001 with Professor Ivan Kučera.
In September 2001 he began piano studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, with Prof. Marian Rybicki. In this school he obtained the Diplome d'Enseignement du Piano (Diploma of Higher Education in Teaching the Piano) in 2002 and the Diplome Superieur d'Ensignement du Piano (Advanced Diploma of Higher Education in Teaching the Piano) in 2004..
In June 2008 he moved to Warsaw Poland with the intention of pursuing his piano studies in this country. In June 2011 he concluded a postgraduate program (Postgraduate Artistic Training in Piano Performance) at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, where he studied with Prof. Elżbieta Tarnawska, obtaining the highest A grading.
In 2015 he began his Master's program in Piano Performance at the Aveiro University where he obtained his Master's degree in 2017 under the supervision of Prof. Shao Ling. His Master's dissertation dedicated to the performance of F. Chopin’s music was entitled "Sensibilidade pianística e um piano sensível - Interdependências na Performance da Música de Chopin" and received the mark of 19 out of 20.
Currently he is attending the Ph.D. program in Music, which he began in October 2021 at the Aveiro University in Portugal, under the supervision of Prog. Luca Chiantore.
Throughout his life, he had the opportunity to refine his piano skills by playing for prestigious world pianists such as Victoria Melki, Artur Pizarro, Josep Colom and Andrzej Jasiński.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES - SOLO
Performed in various locations such as: Lajes, Coimbra, Fundão, Tomar, Porto, Moita, Castelo Branco (Festival da Primavera 2005), Sintra, Palmela, Paredes, Lisbon (Festival Músicas do Acervo 2019), Viseu, Aveiro, Águeda (Ciclos de Lua Nova in Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice Cardoso Pinheiro 2022), Ourém, Torres Novas, in Poland (Warsaw and Dąbrowica) and Morocco (Tétouan at Festival International des Musiciens non Voyants 2017) and in Brazil (Natal).
In July 2003 he was awarded 3rd prize in the National Music Competition of Morocco in Casablanca.
In July 2006 he was the protagonist of a commended recital in the Small Auditorium of the Cultural Centre of Belém in Lisbon, broadcast live on the public radio station RDP Antena 2.
In June 2011 he was invited by the Fazioli brand of pianos to give a concert on one of its rare instruments, where he played Schumann's Symphonic Studies Op. 13, among other works.
In November and December of 2014 and 2015, he made two trips to Natal (Brazil) where he offered recitals, speeches and workshops.
In May 2016 he was invited as a performer to TEDx Aveiro where he played F. Chopin’s Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20 in Teatro Aveirense.
In January 2020 he gave a recital at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon where he played works by Bach, Chopin, Ravel, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
In August 2021 he was the protagonist of a recital in Convento São Francisco in Coimbra entitled “Viagem musical pelo imaginário de Goya” (A musical journey through Goya’s imaginarium) where he played Goyescas by Enrique Granados.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES - SOLOIST
Jorge participated in various concerts as a soloist.
He interpreted Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor in May and July 2005 accompanied by Banda Sinfónica of Guarda Nacional Republicana in Teatro Nacional de São Carlos (Lisbon) and Teatro Municipal Rivoli (Porto); in June 2006 with Banda de Música da Força Aérea Portuguesa in Casa das Artes (Vila Nova de Famalicão) and three times with Filarmónica União Taveirense: January 2008 in Teatro Aveirense (Aveiro), March 2008 in Teatro José Lúcio (Leiria) and November 2009 in Teatro Académico Gil Vicente (Coimbra).
He also interpreted Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" in October 2015 with Filarmónica União Taveirense in Auditório do Conservatório de Música de Coimbra; in November 2015 with Orquestra Sinfónica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Auditório Onofre Lopes in Natal (Brasil), in June 2019 with Orquestra Portuguesa de Guitarras e Bandolins in Auditório Municipal de Gondomar; and in September 2019 with Filarmónica União Taveirense in Convento São Francisco in Coimbra.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES IN CHAMBER MUSIC
Jorge had regular collaborations with prestigious singers, such as Daniela Matos and Susana China, performing with them on numerous occasions in Portugal.
REFERENCES IN THE MEDIA
In December 2004 SIC and Visão presented Jorge’s work through a dedicated television report and magazine coverage.
In May 2005 Jorge was invited to be one of the faces of Pirilampo Mágico (Portugal’s annual solidarity charity campaign), taking part in its Opening Gala at the Lisbon Coliseum, which was broadcast live on national television channels and public radio stations.
He participated in other TV programs, such as “Herman SIC” (April 2006), “Consigo” on RTP (May 2006) and "Boa Tarde" on SIC (May 2013); among others in Portugal and in other countries.
In October 2012 another television report by SIC, focused on his work and life, in the "Perdidos e Achados" program.
His life and work have been the focus of articles, reports and interviews in various media, such as "Activa" magazine, "Correio da Manhã", "Diário de Coimbra", TSF, Antena 2 and RTP 1.
PEDAGOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Jorge has cultivated a versatile pedagogical activity throughout his life, giving masterclasses, lessons, lectures and speeches specialised in the areas of piano performance and advocacy of musical Braille.
In 2022 he wrote an article entitled “Musicografia em Portugal - uma espera eterna” (Braille Music in Portugal - an eternal wait) which was included in the book “Braille Porquê” published by the foundation Bengala Mágica.
EDUCATION
He began his piano studies in September 1992 in the Regional Conservatory of Tomar, Portugal, with prof. Joaquim Branco.
In October 1993 he returned to Coimbra to continue piano studies at the Conservatory of Music in Coimbra. Over the next eight years, he worked with Professor Isilda Margarida, where he finished the General Course of Piano in June 2001. During this period also studied French horn between 1995 and 2001 with Professor Ivan Kučera.
In September 2001 he began piano studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, with Prof. Marian Rybicki. In this school he obtained the Diplome d'Enseignement du Piano (Diploma of Higher Education in Teaching the Piano) in 2002 and the Diplome Superieur d'Ensignement du Piano (Advanced Diploma of Higher Education in Teaching the Piano) in 2004..
In June 2008 he moved to Warsaw Poland with the intention of pursuing his piano studies in this country. In June 2011 he concluded a postgraduate program (Postgraduate Artistic Training in Piano Performance) at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, where he studied with Prof. Elżbieta Tarnawska, obtaining the highest A grading.
In 2015 he began his Master's program in Piano Performance at the Aveiro University where he obtained his Master's degree in 2017 under the supervision of Prof. Shao Ling. His Master's dissertation dedicated to the performance of F. Chopin’s music was entitled "Sensibilidade pianística e um piano sensível - Interdependências na Performance da Música de Chopin" and received the mark of 19 out of 20.
Currently he is attending the Ph.D. program in Music, which he began in October 2021 at the Aveiro University in Portugal, under the supervision of Prog. Luca Chiantore.
Throughout his life, he had the opportunity to refine his piano skills by playing for prestigious world pianists such as Victoria Melki, Artur Pizarro, Josep Colom and Andrzej Jasiński.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES - SOLO
Performed in various locations such as: Lajes, Coimbra, Fundão, Tomar, Porto, Moita, Castelo Branco (Festival da Primavera 2005), Sintra, Palmela, Paredes, Lisbon (Festival Músicas do Acervo 2019), Viseu, Aveiro, Águeda (Ciclos de Lua Nova in Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice Cardoso Pinheiro 2022), Ourém, Torres Novas, in Poland (Warsaw and Dąbrowica) and Morocco (Tétouan at Festival International des Musiciens non Voyants 2017) and in Brazil (Natal).
In July 2003 he was awarded 3rd prize in the National Music Competition of Morocco in Casablanca.
In July 2006 he was the protagonist of a commended recital in the Small Auditorium of the Cultural Centre of Belém in Lisbon, broadcast live on the public radio station RDP Antena 2.
In June 2011 he was invited by the Fazioli brand of pianos to give a concert on one of its rare instruments, where he played Schumann's Symphonic Studies Op. 13, among other works.
In November and December of 2014 and 2015, he made two trips to Natal (Brazil) where he offered recitals, speeches and workshops.
In May 2016 he was invited as a performer to TEDx Aveiro where he played F. Chopin’s Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20 in Teatro Aveirense.
In January 2020 he gave a recital at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon where he played works by Bach, Chopin, Ravel, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
In August 2021 he was the protagonist of a recital in Convento São Francisco in Coimbra entitled “Viagem musical pelo imaginário de Goya” (A musical journey through Goya’s imaginarium) where he played Goyescas by Enrique Granados.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES - SOLOIST
Jorge participated in various concerts as a soloist.
He interpreted Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor in May and July 2005 accompanied by Banda Sinfónica of Guarda Nacional Republicana in Teatro Nacional de São Carlos (Lisbon) and Teatro Municipal Rivoli (Porto); in June 2006 with Banda de Música da Força Aérea Portuguesa in Casa das Artes (Vila Nova de Famalicão) and three times with Filarmónica União Taveirense: January 2008 in Teatro Aveirense (Aveiro), March 2008 in Teatro José Lúcio (Leiria) and November 2009 in Teatro Académico Gil Vicente (Coimbra).
He also interpreted Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" in October 2015 with Filarmónica União Taveirense in Auditório do Conservatório de Música de Coimbra; in November 2015 with Orquestra Sinfónica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Auditório Onofre Lopes in Natal (Brasil), in June 2019 with Orquestra Portuguesa de Guitarras e Bandolins in Auditório Municipal de Gondomar; and in September 2019 with Filarmónica União Taveirense in Convento São Francisco in Coimbra.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES IN CHAMBER MUSIC
Jorge had regular collaborations with prestigious singers, such as Daniela Matos and Susana China, performing with them on numerous occasions in Portugal.
REFERENCES IN THE MEDIA
In December 2004 SIC and Visão presented Jorge’s work through a dedicated television report and magazine coverage.
In May 2005 Jorge was invited to be one of the faces of Pirilampo Mágico (Portugal’s annual solidarity charity campaign), taking part in its Opening Gala at the Lisbon Coliseum, which was broadcast live on national television channels and public radio stations.
He participated in other TV programs, such as “Herman SIC” (April 2006), “Consigo” on RTP (May 2006) and "Boa Tarde" on SIC (May 2013); among others in Portugal and in other countries.
In October 2012 another television report by SIC, focused on his work and life, in the "Perdidos e Achados" program.
His life and work have been the focus of articles, reports and interviews in various media, such as "Activa" magazine, "Correio da Manhã", "Diário de Coimbra", TSF, Antena 2 and RTP 1.
PEDAGOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Jorge has cultivated a versatile pedagogical activity throughout his life, giving masterclasses, lessons, lectures and speeches specialised in the areas of piano performance and advocacy of musical Braille.
In 2022 he wrote an article entitled “Musicografia em Portugal - uma espera eterna” (Braille Music in Portugal - an eternal wait) which was included in the book “Braille Porquê” published by the foundation Bengala Mágica.
