João Bastos

Trombone

Participated as a “Young Talent” in the 2018 edition

João Bastos, a native of Aveiro, was born on August 27, 1999. He began his studies at the Music Academy of the Associação Recreativa e Musical Amigos da Branca (ARMAB) in Professor Álvaro Pinto’s class at around age 7. In 2009, he enrolled at the Jobra Music Conservatory (Elementary/Intermediate Level) in Professor Gabriel Dias’s class, later continuing his studies at the ARMAB Music Academy in Professor Élson Pinho’s class. He continued his studies at the Jobra Music Conservatory, entering the professional program under Professor Álvaro Pinto, a course he completed with a PAP score of 20. In 2017, he enrolled at the Higher School of Music and Performing Arts under Professor David Silva, a program he is currently attending. In 2014, he won first prize at the Ateneu Vilafranquense Competition with the ARMAB Symphonic Band. That same year, performing with the same association, he won first place (second prize) at the Vila d’Altea International Band Competition. Two years later, this time as a member of the Wind Orchestra of the Chaves Academy of Arts, he once again won first place (second prize) at the Vila d’Altea International Band Competition. He participated in the 8th Workshop of the National Youth Orchestra (ONJ) from July 25 to August 1, 2015.A year later, he participated in the 9th Workshop of the same orchestra. That same year, following a vote by all participants, he was awarded the workshop’s merit prize. Notable achievements include winning second prize at the Terras de La Sallette competition in 2015 (Youth Category) and, at the Castelo de Paiva International Trombone Competition, third prize in 2016 (Junior Category) and first prize in 2018. In 2016, at just 16 years old, he was one of the eight semifinalists in the “Young Musicians Award” in the senior category for trombone soloists. He was honored by the Albergaria-a-Velha City Council as the top 11th-grade student at the Jobra Music Conservatory for the 2015–2016 school year and again for the 2016–2017 school year in 12th grade. He joined the Portuguese Youth Orchestra (JOP) for the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 seasons. He was accepted into the Atlantic Coast Orchestra, based in Esposende, under the direction of conductor Luís Clemente. After participating in the Gulbenkian Orchestra Internship in July 2017, he was hired to perform a program with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in September 2017. In October 2017, he was appointed principal trombone of the Fátima Classical Orchestra. In February 2018, he was selected to participate in the “Side by Side” project, an initiative promoted by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which involved performing with that orchestra under the direction of conductor Semyon Bychkov. He is currently a member of Massive Brass Attack!, a brass ensemble founded by Professor Sérgio Carolino. Throughout his training, he has attended numerous advanced courses in trombone performance with musicians such as David Silva, Severo Martinez, Jarret Buttler, André Conde, Stefan Schulz, Ian Bousefield, Andreas Klein, Filipe Alves, Bill Thomas, and others. Professionally, he has gained performance experience as a trombonist in symphony orchestras, wind orchestras, jazz big bands, symphonic bands, and other ensembles. Notable engagements include performances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Porto Symphony Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Internship Orchestra, the ONJ, the JOP, the Santa Maria da Feira Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band, the Chaves Academy of Arts Wind Orchestra, the ART’J Wind Orchestra, the ART’J Symphony Orchestra, the Estarrejazz Big Band, and the ARMAB Symphonic Band, among others. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of working with various conductors, including Paulo Martins, Hernâni Petiz, José Eduardo Gomes, Armando Saldarini, Francisco Ferreira, Cristiano Silva, Pablo Urbina, Álvaro Pinto, André Granjo, Carlos Marques, Pedro Carneiro, Luciano Pereira, José Petit, Joana Carneiro, Quentin Hindley, Sérgio Carolino, António Saiote, José Maria Moreno, and Semyon Bychkov, among others.