Let’s start with a bit of background story, as all good stories start at the beginning.

Hi, my name is Filipe and I’m a music addict…

Guilty as charged! My grandfather was a music teacher, choir master, band leader, and played pretty much every instrument he could get his hands on. Being brought up under these circumstances changes you for life. You can’t avoid but to be permanently in love with music. I know I can’t.

Cutting a long story short, this is why I ended up spending a few years up to my ears in it, studying Music Production and Technologies, in a building that breathes music (ESMAE – Porto’s Superior School for Music and Performing Arts), amongst some of the best musicians in the country. Yes, I’m biased, but they really are. 😉

Introducing Anna who is a performing arts addict…

Also guilty as charged. Growing up, Anna participated in school band and learned how to play the clarinet, with not-so-secret aspirations to one day learn how to play the (much cooler!) saxophone (and I suspect the drums, too…).

Then life changed directions and music took second place for a while, until one day it placed LAMDA – the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts, squarely in Anna’s path, in the form of a diploma in Stage Management & Technical Theatre.

Since then, photography and performing arts have taken centre stage in Anna’s life.

Enter Capella Duriensis

So what happens when Anna crosses paths with two lovely singers from a vocal ensemble, which happens to be the brainchild of a British long-term member of Remix Ensemble, Casa da Musica?

An instant collaboration, that’s what happens!

Meet Capella Duriensis, a wonderful group of people who get together to do the second best thing in the world: music!

…photography being the first best thing, of course! 😉

Founded in 2010 and led by Jonathan Ayerst, “Capella Duriensis is a vocal ensemble which specialises in training young Portuguese singers to a professional level” (find out more about them on their website). Jonathan is an acclaimed award winning concert pianist and organist, with several recordings to his name.

Jonathan Ayerst

We’re now incredibly proud to announce our collaboration with this amazing group of talented musicians.