Biography
Rafael Fraga was born in Lisbon in 1978, living in the Azores (Portugal) most of his childhood. He started playing the guitar at the age of 13, and after concluding his degree in Biology, he dedicated himself entirely to music and writing, studied jazz guitar at the Escola de Jazz Luís Villas-Boas. In 2008 he graduated in Composition at the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, then pursuing his Master studies in classical composition at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He concluded his studies in 2010. He had the opportunity to share the knowledge of teachers such as Luciano Lombardi, Pedro Madaleno and Vasco Agostinho (guitar), Carlos Marecos, António Pinho Vargas, João Madureira, Willem Jeths and Richard Ayres (composition). He has worked as a guitarist, composer and orchestrator in many projects, writing music of different genres and styles. With a solid background in different music traditions -popular, jazz, classical or contemporary music, His works reflect the pursue of a balanced blending of diverse musical contexts and perspectives. He has had the privilege to work with some of the most relevant personalities of contemporary Portuguese culture such as the leading fado singer Carlos do Carmo, poet Nuno Júdice, pianist João Paulo Esteves da Silva and the editor Nelson de Matos. Recently, he worked as a composer, arranger and musical consultant for the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and acclaimed singer Ana Moura, in an ambitious new programme totally dedicated to Portuguese music that gave international exposure to his work. His projects include Van de weemoed en de troost, with the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Ana Moura and Bernardo Couto (2011); A-mestra-dam, in the First Composers Festival of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2010); O Casamento do Diabo, short opera with text by Nuno Júdice (2008); the Carlos do Carmo Songbook, with Augusto Macedo (2008); 20 Canções para Zeca Afonso, with João Paulo Esteves da Silva, Jorge Reis, Bruno Pedroso (2007); A voz do fado no fado dos novos, with Carlos do Carmo (2006). He has released and participated in several music albums and edited two books. He writes prose and poetry regularly. In 1995 he was awarded the Juventude and Defesa Nacional Prize (Instituto Português da Juventude e Ministério da Defesa Nacional) for his work on the Holy Ghost tradition in the Azores; His poem “Pássaros” was chosen to integrate the Estudos Sobre Cultura Popular poetry collection (Portugal, 2006). The short opera O Casamento do Diabo was finalist at the Ópera em Criação contest, awarded by the Opera Estúdio de Lisboa and Teatro S. Luiz. His pieces (Madrigal and “I Have a System”) were chosen to be peformed in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Open Dag festivals in 2009 and 2010, to represent the Composition Department. In 2010 he was granted the Bolsa de Criação Artística for classical compositionby the Governo Regional dos Acores, Portugal. Some of his relevant projects include (by dates of appearance): 2011 Van de weemoed en de troost (Of sadness and consolation) | Concerts (Belgium, Netherlands) With the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Ana Moura and Bernardo Couto. 2010 25 Anos de música original nos Acores (25 years of author music in the Azores) | Concerts, CD release With Joao Paulo Esteves da Silva, Augusto Macedo, Joao David Almeida, Alexandra Ávila, etc. A-mestra-dam | Included in the First Composition Festival of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. With Barbara Kits, Stijn Berkouwer, etc. "I Have a System" | Stage play for musicians; premiéred in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Open Day concert. 2009 Na rota dos Cantores Atlanticos | Concerts (Portugal); With Stella Maris amateur choir (Toronto, Canada) and chamber orchestra. 2008 LEMES: Live Electronic Music Ensemble Setup | With Michael Dzjaparidze and Tjeerd Schils. As Palavras Interditas | Music, words and projection; with Augusto Macedo and guests. Carlos do Carmo Songbook | With Augusto Macedo. O Casamento do Diabo | With Nuno Júdice; short opera for STB and chamber orchestra. 2007 20 Cançoes para Zeca Afonso (20 songs for Zeca Afonso) | Arrangements With Joao Paulo Esteves da Silva, Augusto Macedo, Joao David Almeida, Alexandra Ávila, etc. Azorean Authors Songbook | With Augusto Macedo. 2006 A voz do fado no fado dos novos | With Carlos do Carmo and chamber ensemble. 2005 Entre cidades | Solo suite for guitar - CD 2004 2 Pontos de Canção | With composer/singer João David Almeida 2003 CoLdFusIon Jazz Trio | With Augusto Macedo and Joao Barra 2002-1999 Águas de Março (Waters of March) | Original Bossa nova project Qualifications: Master (MA) degree in Classical Composition, with solid academic and artistic background in music as a composer, arranger and performer. Proven leadership as musical and artistic director. Experienced teacher, writer and researcher. Bachelor in Biology. Education, Licensing and Honors: Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands - Master degree in Classical composition (MA), 2010 Governo Regional dos Açores, Açores, Portugal - Recipient, Bolsa de Criação Artística, 2010 [grant] Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal - Bachelor degree in Composition, 2008 Conservatório Regional de Ponta Delgada, Portugal - Certificate, Music Theory, 2004 Universidade dos Açores, Açores, Portugal - Bachelor’s degree in Biology, 2001 - Recipient, PRODEP for Academic Excellence, 2000 [grant] Ministry of National Defense/Portuguese Institute for the Youth, Portugal - Recipient, Youth and National Defense Award, 1995 |
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