Clarinettist, conductor e and composer, Luís Carvalho (b.1974) is one of the most active Portuguese artists of the younger generation. A native of Oporto, he studied clarinet at the Conservatory of Music and at the Superior School for Music and Drama (ESMAE), with António Moreira Jorge and António Saiote. Further studies abroad were with Michel Arrignon, Jacques di Donato and Walter Boyeckens, amongst others, and he also holds a Masters degree in Musical Performance by the Aveiro University, under the guidance of Alain Damiens. He was awarded several distinctions, namely the “Prize for the best student of the course” (ESMAE-1994), the 1st Prize in Chamber Music of the Portuguese Jeunesses Musicales (1995), semi-finalist at the “Dos Hermanas International Clarinet Competition” (Seville-1995) and also the top Prize at the “Helena de Sá e Costa Competition” at ESMAE (1997), as well as a 1st Prize on the unanimity of the jury at “Estoril Competition” (Lisbon-2001). Member of the Portuguese Youth Orchestraa from 1991, and of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra (France) from 1996, he’s also soloist with the Filarmonia das Beiras chamber orchestra from 1997, having played solo concerts with some of the most important Portuguese orchestras. Professional work as a clarinettist over the years led him to concerts and recital all around Europe, Northern Africa and Asia, with collaborations, amongst others, with the Oporto National Orchestra, the REMIX-ensemble, the Córdoba Orchestra (Spain), The Oporto Soloista (for the premiere of the opera “Death and the Madman” by Alexandre Delgado-1994) and the New Music Group. Highlights of recitals featuring Luís Carvalho were at the European Clarinet e Saxophone Congress at Hungary (1997), and at the Oporto International Clarinet Congress (1999, 2001 e 2003). Of his concerts the critics wrote that he plays «with a big, round tone, formidable technique and convincing musicality» (James Gillespie in The Clarinet magazine) or that «he is one of the most complete clarinettists of the younger generation» (Fernando C. Lapa in Público). Luís Carvalho was featured soloist at the closure concert of the Spring Meeting festival at Guimarães (1998), and at the Musique en Guyenne opening concert (Monflanquin/
France-1998).

the academic year closure concert at the Aveiro University, featuring Mahler’s 4th Symphony and Copland’s El Salón México (2007), Shostakovitch’s 9th Symphony at St. Petersburg (2006), the Mass by Stravinsky and the Coronation Mass by Mozart at the Aveiro University Christmas Concerts (2005), and the premiere of the opera-oratorio Tale of the foundation of the city of Coimbra, by Manuel de Faria, a work that, albeit written in 1963, remain unheard for over 40 years (Coimbra-2004). Some of the finest Portuguese singers joined Mr. Carvalho for this event, and a live-CD was released by the Public-Art label. Also on the scenic music field Luís Carvalho conducted La voix humaine by Poulenc, and Il secreto de Susanna by Wolf-Ferrari at the Museum Lyric Season (Oporto-2007), and Pierrot Lunaire by Schoenberg in (2004). Future engagements include his debut with the Portuguese Symphony Band leading the premiere of his own work Fantastic Variations, as well as the Orchestra and Choir of the Aveiro University for the closure concerts of the Autumn Festivals 2008, at Aveiro.
Luís Carvalho assisted maestro Marko Letonja and the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra and Choir in Mahler’s Symphony No.2 (Lisbon-2001), and also maestro Michael Zilm and the Oporto National Orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony No.6 (Oporto-2006). His mentors include Jorma Panula and Jesus López-Cóbos, amongst others, and he also holds a post-graduation diploma for contemporary music conducting by the Alcalá de Henares University (Madrid), with Arturo Tamayo.

the clarinettists Victor Pereira and Nuno Pinto, the percussionist Manuel Campos, the Saxophone Quartet InvictaSax (to whom SAX-SUITE is dedicated), the woodwind quintet Diaphonia, or the harpist Carla Bos. Fantastic Variations for symphonic wind orchestra, and Mozartiana-a musical joke for clarinet ensemble, a parody on Mozart themes, will be premiered this season, as well as Musica Ricercata-11 Bagetelles, a new orchestration for 12 winds of Ligeti’s original piano suite. On going works include extensive revisions to his still original orchestral suite Serenade Vox Populis, and another new orchestration of Ravel’s Valses Nobles et Sentimentales for chamber ensemble.
Within the scope of his Masters thesis Luís Carvalho created new versions of the nearly forgotten four concertos of the most important Portuguese clarinettist of the 19th century, José Avelino Canongia. These are for the first time available on their entirety, and also with orchestral reduction for piano, thus allowing them to be more easily presented to wider audiences, specially in school practice.