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Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Regional Government promotes training for Portuguese Philharmonic Bands in New England
Regional Government promotes training for Portuguese Philharmonic Bands in New England
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
House of the Azores of Minas Gerais founded in Belo Horizonte
House of the Azores of Minas Gerais founded in Belo Horizonte
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Azores and Madeira sign protocol with Portuguese Communities Council
Azores and Madeira sign protocol with Portuguese Communities Council
August 7, 2025
Regional Government promotes training for Portuguese Philharmonic Bands in New England
July 30, 2025
House of the Azores of Minas Gerais founded in Belo Horizonte
July 25, 2025
Azores and Madeira sign protocol with Portuguese Communities Council
News
Nota de Imprensa
August 7, 2025
Regional Government promotes training for Portuguese Philharmonic Bands in New England
The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, will promote a training initiative for the Portuguese Philharmonic Bands of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, United States of America. It will take place on August 23 and 24 at the headquarters of the House of the Azores of New England in Fall River. This training initiative consists of a six-hour workload, taking place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It aims to create a space for sharing experiences and updating knowledge on the topic, providing practical continuity to a similar online initiative developed in September 2024. The training is open to all members of Portuguese philharmonic bands, from musicians to conductors. The panel of trainers will once again be composed of renowned conductors Antero Ávila (Terceira Island) and Marco Torre (São Miguel Island). Antero Ávila was born on the island of Pico in the Azores. He had his first contact with music at a very young age, even before learning to read and write. At the age of seven, he took private piano lessons, and at 14, he became artistic director of the União Artista de São Roque do Pico Philharmonic Band. He attended the National Conservatory in Lisbon and the Lisbon School of Music. He holds a degree in Composition. He has settled on Terceira Island, where he teaches at the Angra do Heroísmo Regional Conservatory. Over the years, he has been a member of various groups and has written several works for choir, orchestra, chamber music and symphonic band. Marco Torre was born in Cascais and has lived on the island of São Miguel in the Azores since 2006. He also began learning music at a very early age, as a result of his family's strong ties to music. He attended the National Conservatory of Music and later joined the Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra. He has worked with several philharmonic bands and is the artistic director of the Ponta Delgada Light Music Orchestra, the Coliseum Orchestra and the Fundação Brasileira dos Mosteiros Band. Additionally, he is responsible for the "Filarmonia," a radio programme that has been part of Antena 1 Açores' broadcasting schedule for 15 years. He is also a teacher at the Ponta Delgada Regional Conservatory. This training course is free of charge, but prior registration is required. Those interested in attending can register by filling out the form available at https://forms.office.com/e/qeJESmCqC9?origin=lprLink, until August 15. There are currently 14 Portuguese philharmonic bands active in New England: in the state of Rhode Island, the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Band in Providence, the Nova Aliança Band in Pawtucket, the Santa Isabel Band in Bristol, and the Clube Juventude Lusitânia Band in Cumberland. In the state of Massachusetts, in the Boston area, there are the following philharmonic bands: Peabody (Portuguese Recreational Band), Lowell (Espírito Santo Band), Cambridge (Santo António Band) and Stoughton (São João Band). The city of New Bedford has two philharmonic bands, the Senhor da Pedra Band and the Senhora dos Anjos Band. In turn, there are four active bands in the city of Fall River: the Santo António Band (the oldest in the United States, founded in 1904), the Mosteirense de Nossa Senhora da Conceição Band, the Santa Cecília Band, and the Nossa Senhora da Luz Band. Philharmonic bands have played a fundamental and constant role in preserving and promoting Azorean traditions and cultural identity. Recognising the importance of these entities in the cultural and social life of emigrant communities and Azorean descendants in North America, the Azorean Government has been continuously investing in initiatives to keep the cultural heritage of the Region alive beyond its borders, while promoting closer ties and lasting exchanges between the Azores and their communities. This training event is associated with the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, which take place in the city of Fall River during the last weekend of August, with the usual participation of Portuguese philharmonic bands from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
August 7, 2025
Regional Government promotes training for Portuguese Philharmonic Bands in New England
The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, will promote a training initiative for the Portuguese Philharmonic Bands of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, United States of America. It will take place on August 23 and 24 at the headquarters of the House of the Azores of New England in Fall River. This training initiative consists of a six-hour workload, taking place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It aims to create a space for sharing experiences and updating knowledge on the topic, providing practical continuity to a similar online initiative developed in September 2024. The training is open to all members of Portuguese philharmonic bands, from musicians to conductors. The panel of trainers will once again be composed of renowned conductors Antero Ávila (Terceira Island) and Marco Torre (São Miguel Island). Antero Ávila was born on the island of Pico in the Azores. He had his first contact with music at a very young age, even before learning to read and write. At the age of seven, he took private piano lessons, and at 14, he became artistic director of the União Artista de São Roque do Pico Philharmonic Band. He attended the National Conservatory in Lisbon and the Lisbon School of Music. He holds a degree in Composition. He has settled on Terceira Island, where he teaches at the Angra do Heroísmo Regional Conservatory. Over the years, he has been a member of various groups and has written several works for choir, orchestra, chamber music and symphonic band. Marco Torre was born in Cascais and has lived on the island of São Miguel in the Azores since 2006. He also began learning music at a very early age, as a result of his family's strong ties to music. He attended the National Conservatory of Music and later joined the Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra. He has worked with several philharmonic bands and is the artistic director of the Ponta Delgada Light Music Orchestra, the Coliseum Orchestra and the Fundação Brasileira dos Mosteiros Band. Additionally, he is responsible for the "Filarmonia," a radio programme that has been part of Antena 1 Açores' broadcasting schedule for 15 years. He is also a teacher at the Ponta Delgada Regional Conservatory. This training course is free of charge, but prior registration is required. Those interested in attending can register by filling out the form available at https://forms.office.com/e/qeJESmCqC9?origin=lprLink, until August 15. There are currently 14 Portuguese philharmonic bands active in New England: in the state of Rhode Island, the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Band in Providence, the Nova Aliança Band in Pawtucket, the Santa Isabel Band in Bristol, and the Clube Juventude Lusitânia Band in Cumberland. In the state of Massachusetts, in the Boston area, there are the following philharmonic bands: Peabody (Portuguese Recreational Band), Lowell (Espírito Santo Band), Cambridge (Santo António Band) and Stoughton (São João Band). The city of New Bedford has two philharmonic bands, the Senhor da Pedra Band and the Senhora dos Anjos Band. In turn, there are four active bands in the city of Fall River: the Santo António Band (the oldest in the United States, founded in 1904), the Mosteirense de Nossa Senhora da Conceição Band, the Santa Cecília Band, and the Nossa Senhora da Luz Band. Philharmonic bands have played a fundamental and constant role in preserving and promoting Azorean traditions and cultural identity. Recognising the importance of these entities in the cultural and social life of emigrant communities and Azorean descendants in North America, the Azorean Government has been continuously investing in initiatives to keep the cultural heritage of the Region alive beyond its borders, while promoting closer ties and lasting exchanges between the Azores and their communities. This training event is associated with the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, which take place in the city of Fall River during the last weekend of August, with the usual participation of Portuguese philharmonic bands from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Nota de Imprensa
July 30, 2025
House of the Azores of Minas Gerais founded in Belo Horizonte
The House of the Azores of Minas Gerais was founded on July 26, last Saturday, in the state capital of Belo Horizonte. It is the eighth House of the Azores in Brazil and celebrates 300 years of Azorean presence in a state with more than 20 million inhabitants. The founding ceremony was presided over by the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade, on behalf of the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities. It took place at the Minas Gerais Historical and Geographical Institute. At the ceremony, the first governing bodies of the House of the Azores of Minas Gerais, chaired by Cláudio Motta, a lawyer, entrepreneur and journalist from Minas Gerais of Azorean descent, took office. A cooperation protocol was also signed between the Government of the Azores and the new organisation. The Azorean presence in the state of Minas Gerais began in 1723 with the emigration of the so-called "Três Ilhoas," three sisters from the island of Faial, giving rise to numerous prominent families in the history of Minas Gerais, such as Terra, Brum, Silveira, Dutra, Faria, Fagundes, Rosa, Rezende, Cunha, Garcia, Neves, Bittencourt and Goulart. Over the past three centuries, thousands of Azorean descendants from successive generations have contributed to the development of a Brazilian state comprising 850 municipalities, equivalent in size to the territory of France. Azorean emigrants even founded towns in Minas Gerais, such as Andrelândia. There are two municipalities in Minas Gerais twinned with two Azorean municipalities, namely Ouro Preto with Angra do Heroísmo and Rezende Costa with Vila do Porto. The House of the Azores of Minas Gerais now joins the Houses of the Azores of Rio de Janeiro (1952), São Paulo (1980), Bahia (1980), Santa Catarina (1999), Rio Grande do Sul (2003), Maranhão (2019) and Espírito Santo (2022), nearly all of which were represented at the founding ceremony. The presence of these Houses motivated the organisation of the 8th Azores Brazil Meeting, held on July 27 at the Minas Gerais Historical and Geographical Institute, which included a conference on Azorean journeys through Brazilian lands. It was delivered by Vera Lúcia Maciel Barroso, a researcher of Azorean descent and director of the Santa Casa de Porto Alegre Historical and Cultural Centre. The creation of the House of the Azores of Minas Gerais will strengthen relations between one of Brazil's largest states and the Autonomous Region of the Azores, contributing to the recovery and preservation of the Azorean legacy in Brazil. The initiative is part of the Regional Government's political strategy of bringing together the nine islands of the autonomous region and their communities of emigrants and Azorean descendants scattered around the world.
July 30, 2025
House of the Azores of Minas Gerais founded in Belo Horizonte
The House of the Azores of Minas Gerais was founded on July 26, last Saturday, in the state capital of Belo Horizonte. It is the eighth House of the Azores in Brazil and celebrates 300 years of Azorean presence in a state with more than 20 million inhabitants. The founding ceremony was presided over by the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade, on behalf of the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities. It took place at the Minas Gerais Historical and Geographical Institute. At the ceremony, the first governing bodies of the House of the Azores of Minas Gerais, chaired by Cláudio Motta, a lawyer, entrepreneur and journalist from Minas Gerais of Azorean descent, took office. A cooperation protocol was also signed between the Government of the Azores and the new organisation. The Azorean presence in the state of Minas Gerais began in 1723 with the emigration of the so-called "Três Ilhoas," three sisters from the island of Faial, giving rise to numerous prominent families in the history of Minas Gerais, such as Terra, Brum, Silveira, Dutra, Faria, Fagundes, Rosa, Rezende, Cunha, Garcia, Neves, Bittencourt and Goulart. Over the past three centuries, thousands of Azorean descendants from successive generations have contributed to the development of a Brazilian state comprising 850 municipalities, equivalent in size to the territory of France. Azorean emigrants even founded towns in Minas Gerais, such as Andrelândia. There are two municipalities in Minas Gerais twinned with two Azorean municipalities, namely Ouro Preto with Angra do Heroísmo and Rezende Costa with Vila do Porto. The House of the Azores of Minas Gerais now joins the Houses of the Azores of Rio de Janeiro (1952), São Paulo (1980), Bahia (1980), Santa Catarina (1999), Rio Grande do Sul (2003), Maranhão (2019) and Espírito Santo (2022), nearly all of which were represented at the founding ceremony. The presence of these Houses motivated the organisation of the 8th Azores Brazil Meeting, held on July 27 at the Minas Gerais Historical and Geographical Institute, which included a conference on Azorean journeys through Brazilian lands. It was delivered by Vera Lúcia Maciel Barroso, a researcher of Azorean descent and director of the Santa Casa de Porto Alegre Historical and Cultural Centre. The creation of the House of the Azores of Minas Gerais will strengthen relations between one of Brazil's largest states and the Autonomous Region of the Azores, contributing to the recovery and preservation of the Azorean legacy in Brazil. The initiative is part of the Regional Government's political strategy of bringing together the nine islands of the autonomous region and their communities of emigrants and Azorean descendants scattered around the world.