Inaugural Musethica Session in Porto and Lisbon

From March 8th to 16th, an immersive week of concerts and musical activities took place as part of the European project 1000+ Concerts: Innovating Higher Music Education through Social Inclusion. The initiative began in Porto with rehearsals at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo (ESMAE) and performances at various social institutions, ending in Lisbon at the 13th Viola Meeting organized by the Portuguese Viola d'Arco Association.

Participating artists included Avri Levitan (viola - tutor and artistic coordinator, Musethica International), Djonathan Inácio da Silva (viola - ESMAE), Catarina Gonçalves (viola - ESMAE), and Luz Elisabeth Sánchez Suero (viola - Musethica International). The ensemble toured several social institutions in Porto, bringing classical music to diverse audiences in vulnerable contexts, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

Concerts were held at venues such as the Associação Portuguesa do Deficiente, Liga Portuguesa contra o Cancro, Centro Juvenil de Campanhã, Casa Ronald McDonald, APPACDM Porto, Centro Social da Sé Catedral do Porto, and Centro Social das Antas. Additionally, the programme included a presentation at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto, where students, faculty, and researchers discussed the project's impact and implementation.

In addition to the performances in social institutions, ESMAE hosted a public concert on March 13th at 9h30pm in Room 210, featuring works by J. S. Bach, Vivaldi, and Shostakovich. On March 12th at 6h00pm, the seminar The Art of Practising, led by Avri Levitan, was held in the Teresa Macedo Room.

The concert week concluded in Lisbon with the participation in the 13th Viola Meeting, further highlighting the project's role in shaping musicians with a deep sense of social responsibility. Through this edition of the Musethica programme, ESMAE reaffirms its commitment to making culture more accessible, fostering both the artistic and personal growth of its students, and bringing music to those who need it most.

“It was an honour to play for such warm and special audiences—it reminded me why I do what I do.” (Djonathan Inácio da Silva, viola)