TetVocal
Tetvocal was formed over ten years ago, starting
to focus on North American music – jazz,
barbershop and blues – and in the meantime
perfecting its technical and artistic quality. This
period turned out to be fundamental for
Tetvocal, exploring possibilities of this genre and
repertoire and to familiarise with this kind of
music, that turned out to be ideal for shaping
their different voices. It also gave Tetvocal time
to reflect on their existence as a group and to
set the path to perform their work in Portuguese.
All members of Tetvocal sang in the Gulbenkian
Choir in Lisbon and in a contemporary music
choir. The combination of a classical
background and the desire to explore new
horizons made that Tetvocal is one of the best
ensembles of its kind in Portugal.
Tetvocal performs a capella. Starting as a six
persons formation, they finally moved on as a group
consisting of four. Tetvocal did not specifically
perform as a sextet, quintet or quartet, and chose
to use a generic musical group denomination,
TETO. Later on the "o" was dropped and the
magical word became TETVOCAL.
After the normal ups and downs, Tetvocal
became a solid group performing regularly. In
1994, TetVocal signed a contract with EMI for
their first CD, which includes Portuguese
traditional music arranged by the group itself.
In an unusual short period of time they became
6th in the Tops, enjoying an enthusiastic acclaim
by both the public and critics and giving
concerts all over Portugal and Spain. They were
invited by George Martin (the "5th Beatle") to
perform in the commemorations of the 50th
anniversary of the United Nations. In 1996, the
group released its 2nd CD: "DESAFINADOS".
Since then they have held concerts in France,
Belgium and Spain and at the Rochefort
International Festival, in Paris. The group just
represented Portugal in the Festival of Music
and Dance in Thailand, with great success.
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Paulo Lourenço
baritone |
Founder of the TetVocal, Paulo Lourenço is a
former member of the Gulbenkian's Foundation
Choir, the Syntagma Musicum Chamber Choir
and Regina Coeli's Choir of Lisbon where he
started his career as assistant conductor. As
conductor he has performed with the Lisbon
Sinfonietta, Portuguese Young Musicians
Orchestra, Lisbon Academic Metropolitan
Orchestra and Utrecht Conservatorium
Chamber Orchestra (Holland). He is also a
member of the Artistic Council of Ricercare's
Music Association and is chorus master of the
Ricercare's Choir.
At present, he is studying in the USA for a
master's degree in choral conducting at the
Conservatory of Music of Cincinnati University,
as well as a graduate assistant at the
department of conducting and ensembles. Due
to academic reasons, Paulo Lourenço will not
be present in tonight's concert.
 |
Sérgio Peixoto
tenor |
Former member of the Olisipo Vocal Choir,
Sérgio Peixoto participated with the choir in
International Festivals for Vocal Groups in
Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. He
won several first prizes in International
Competitions for Chamber Choirs held in
Bulgaria and Italy. He was a student with the
King Singer's and performed as a soloist with
Mark Morris Group Dance Company at the CCB,
in Lisbon. Mr. Peixoto was invited to conduct a
series of master classes in the "500 Festival" in
Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) as
chorus master of the Olisipo Vocal Assemble.
Mr. Peixoto is a member of the Gulbenkian's
Foundation Choir since 1998, performing the
choral symphonic repertoire in concerts in
Europe, Asia, North and South America. In 2001,
he founded the Ensemble "L'Antica Musica",
which specializes in European ancient music.
At present, he is a student of composition at
the School of Music in Lisbon.
 |
Jorge Alves
tenor |
Former member of the São Carlos Opera House
Choir, Jorge Alves became a member of the
Gulbenkian's Foundation Choir in 1998. He was
a teacher at the Covilhã Regional
Conservatorium of Music, Maristas School in
Lisbon and at the Professional School and
Music Academy in Évora. He was coordinator
of the 2nd Choral Singing Seminar in Madrid.
Mr. Alves has conducted the original version of
Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with the Lisboa
Cantat Choir and the Regina Coeli Choir of
Lisbon, as well as Faure's Requiem with the
Lisboa Cantat Choir and Orchestra. He presently
studies at the School of Music in Lisbon with
Roberto Perez and is also Assistant Chorus
Master at the São Carlos Opera House.
 |
Manuel Rebelo dos Santos
baritone |
A member of the Gulbenkian's Foundation Choir
since 2000, Manuel Rebelo dos Santos is also
a member of the São Luís Choir and the
Concertus Antiquus Choir, specialized in ancient
music. He was also a member of the choir
especially formed for the reopening of the São
Luís Theatre, where the choir performed Bach's
complete Christmas Cantatas conducted by
Peter Schreier. He was invited to sing at the
choir's atelier of the Liènes Music Festival in
August 2001. He is a former Professor of Music
at the Metropolitan Orchestra School.
Mr. Santos won the prize of Recommended
Children Song at the Figueira da Foz Little
Singers Gala, in 2000. As a member of the
Lisboa Cantat's Choir, he performed at the
Benefit Gala with José Cura in the Atlantic
Pavilion in Lisbon. He is a recording producer
and composer for Solid Productions Company,
and a composer for several Portuguese artists.
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Pedro Gonçalves
bass |
A member of the Gulbenkian's Foundation Choir
since 1990, Pedro Gonçalves has been performing
the choral symphonic repertoire. With TetVocal he
worked with George Martin (former Beatle) and
together they produced several concerts in
commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the
United Nations. He works regularly as Musical
Director for theatrical productions and is
responsible for animation dubbing produced in
Portugal for companies such as Warner
Brothers, Dream Works and Disney.
