One of the opening shows was on the Galp Fado Café Stage, performed by the Chiquinha Gonzaga Youth Symphony Orchestra, and what a beautiful moment it was to see these young women shine to the sounds of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB).
Founded in 2021 to promote representation and diversity among female instrumentalists, the Chiquinha Gonzaga Youth Symphony Orchestra has 52 members, although it was a smaller version at the Festival.
The group has performed alongside artists such as Elba Ramalho, Alexandre Nero, Toni Garrido, Maria Gadú, Roberta Miranda, and Mônica Salmaso, as well as classical music icons such as Portuguese soprano Carla Caramujo and tenor Eric Herrero.
NOS Alive also featured a great talent in Portuguese music, fado singer Teresinha Landeiro.
The Orchestra pays tribute to pianist, composer, and Brazil’s first female conductor, Chiquinha Gonzaga, who inspired women’s rights and fostered debate on gender equality.
About the Chiquinha Gonzaga Youth Symphony Orchestra:
To foster representation and diversity among female instrumentalists, the Chiquinha Gonzaga Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded in 2021, composed exclusively of girls—children and young adults attending public schools in Rio de Janeiro. Under the direction of conductor Priscila Bomfim, the 52-member group debuted in June of this year with a special guest appearance by singer Elba Ramalho. Since then, the Orchestra has performed on prominent stages such as the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, Casa França-Brasil, and Teatro Imperator, and has performed alongside artists such as Toni Garrido, Paula Lima, Maria Gadú, Mona Vilardo, Angelica de la Riva, Carla Caramujo, Eric Herrero, Mel Lisboa, and Mônica Salmaso.
In November 2022, as part of the celebrations for the Bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence, the Orchestra embarked on its first international tour, with performances in Cascais and Braga (Portugal) and Madrid (Spain). In 2023, a tour of Switzerland followed, with the show “Aquarela Brasileira,” which visited Zurich, Biel, Solothurn, Basel, and Geneva. In 2024, part of the Orchestra participated in an exchange program with the Orchestre Joven de Bordeaux, in France.
The orchestra’s name pays tribute to pianist, composer, and Brazil’s first female conductor, Chiquinha Gonzaga—a visionary artist who faced prejudice and used her music as a vehicle for emancipation and change. The orchestra symbolises women’s struggle for equality and establishes itself as a space for reflection and transformation. Its repertoire spans national and international works.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok and see the exclusive content for social networks.
