The Orchestra
"I'm finally going to start at the University of Coimbra! But I want to bring my viola and everything I learned at the Conservatory with me!"
"My academic life can't be just about studying. I'd love to keep playing my musical instrument."
"I'm coming from Italy, with my trumpet, to study in Coimbra!"
Stories like these gave rise to the missing initiative: the creation of a space that could bring together musicians from the University of Coimbra in a symphonic orchestra setting.
In 2016, the University of Coimbra’s Academic Tuna and the Rectorate founded the Academic Orchestra of the University of Coimbra. The main goal was to unite the existing resources and enthusiasm within Coimbra’s academic community to perform symphonic repertoire.
Current and former students, teaching and non-teaching staff, and all other members of Coimbra’s academic community: this orchestra is the space you’ve been looking for.
Organizing comittee
Gustavo was born in February 2004 in Junqueira, Vale de Cambra. He began his musical journey as a flute student at the Manuel Joaquim de Almeida Music School, under Professor Andreia Soares, and completed the Basic Music Course with Professor Tiago Santos at the Vale de Cambra Music Academy. He continued his musical studies at the Conservatory of Music of Porto with Professors Maria João Balseiro and Luís Meireles.
He has had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous orchestras, wind bands, and renowned conductors, both nationally and internationally. Since 2016, he has been a member of the Banda Musical Flor da Mocidade Junqueirense and also collaborates with the Orquestra Médica Ibérica. He teaches at the Manuel Joaquim de Almeida Music School.
He is currently studying Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. He is a member of the Academic Orchestra of the University of Coimbra and has been part of the OAUC Organising Committee since 2024.
Sara was born in February 2001 in Figueira da Foz. She began her musical studies at the age of 7 at the Banda do Cercal as a student of Professor Ivo Cura in the clarinet class. She joined the Banda do Cercal in 2013, where she continues to play to this day.
She has participated in several national and international orchestra workshops with renowned conductors such as Paulo Martins, Claus Nymark, Douglas Bostock, Afonso Alves, Tiago Alves, among others. She completed the 5th grade at the Coimbra Conservatory of Music in 2019.
She is currently in the final year of her Master's degree in Special Education and Inclusive Society at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra.
She has been a member of the TAUC Board and of the OAUC Organising Committee since 2022.
Born in 2002 in Coimbra, she began her musical journey at the age of 5 with the Coro dos Pequenos Cantores de Coimbra. In 2011, she entered the Coimbra Conservatory of Music, where she studied viola and completed the 8th grade in 2021 under the guidance of Professor Diana Antunes.
In 2020, aiming to maintain her connection to music and the orchestral world, she joined the Academic Tuna of the University of Coimbra, becoming part of the Academic Orchestra of the University of Coimbra (OAUC), where she continues to nurture her passion for music and the city’s academic spirit.
She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Coimbra and, since 2022, has been a member of the OAUC Organizing Committee, actively contributing to the promotion of its activities and events.
She was born in Coimbra in January 2003 and began her musical education at the age of 6 with Maestro Virgílio Caseiro. In 2013, she joined the Coimbra Conservatory of Music to study bassoon under Professor José Pedro Figueiredo, where she completed the 8th grade. In 2021, she enrolled at the School of Music and Performing Arts (ESMAE) in Porto, where she furthered her musical studies for one year in the class of Professor Pedro Silva.
She is currently studying Medicine at the University of Coimbra. Music remains a part of her daily life: she has been a bassoonist with the Academic Orchestra since 2022 and is also a member of the Banda Musical de Pinheiro de Ázere. Since 2023, she has been part of the OAUC Organising Committee, sharing and nurturing her passion for music.
Born in June 2004 in Coimbra, she began her musical journey at the Escolinha de Música de Taveiro. She continued her musical studies at the Conservatório São Teotónio as a student of Professor Jorge Campos and later at the Coimbra Conservatory of Music, where she completed the Secondary Course in Clarinet under the guidance of Professor Nuno Antunes.
She has taken part in masterclasses with Professors Pedro Ladeira and Nuno Silva and participated in numerous workshops, collaborating with renowned orchestras, wind bands, and conductors at both national and international levels.
She has been a member of the Banda Filarmónica União Taveirense for a decade, where she first established her musical roots.
She currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Pharmacy from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra.
She has been part of the Academic Orchestra of the University of Coimbra and its Organizing Committee since 2025.
Rehearsal room
Biography
The Academic Orchestra of the University of Coimbra (OAUC) was born from an initiative of the Academic Tuna of the University of Coimbra (TAUC), in partnership with the University itself. Its creation responded to the need for an open orchestra aimed at the entire university community, welcoming not only current students, but also alumni, future students, and faculty members of the University of Coimbra who have musical training and wish to play in a symphonic orchestra.
As a space for amateur symphonic music performance, the OAUC is committed to regularly performing works by Portuguese composers, promoting the discovery and sharing of this repertoire. The orchestra also aims to help project the image of the University itself, both internally and externally, playing an important role in various formal events connected to the UC.