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Details as composer
 Orquestra do Algarve made its debut in 2002 during the International Algarve Music Festival. It was created under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture – which is involved in its financing – and has, as its founders, besides the Algarve Tourist Board and the University of the Algarve, a core of Algarve local municipalities: Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Loulé, Portimão and Tavira. The municipalities of Alcoutim, Castro Marim, Olhão, Lagoa, S. Brás de Alportel, Vila Real de Santo António and Silves jointed the Orquestra do Algarve as associates. Created to provide the Algarve with a cultural institution of the highest artistic level, the Orquestra do Algarve cultivates a wide range of activities, performing concerts for the local population and for tourists, realizing national and international tours, and recording for international labels. Furthermore, it develops an educational activity aimed at school age groups, and a professional training programme for young musicians. Orquestra do Algarve comprises 31 musicians selected through international auditions. On the time Main Conductor and Music Director, Álvaro Cassuto was accessory to the success of this group. Since this season he will become Main Invited Conductor of the OA. During its short but significant life, the Orquestra do Algarve has been led by a variety of international conductors, such as Joji Hattori, Wolfgang Czeipek, Thomas Kalb, Joel Levine, Nino Lepore, among others, having also presented a large number of Portuguese conductors, such as Cesário Costa, Vasco Pearce de Azevedo and Joana Carneiro. António Sérgio Ferreira and João Tiago Santos were the assistant conductors of the Orquestra do Algarve during the 2003 an 2004 seasons. Osvaldo Ferreira his now the new Residential Conductor of the Orquestra do Algarve. It has recorded two CDs for Naxos (“The biggest selling label in the world” according to the New York Times), one for Marco Polo and another one for Numérica. The Orchestra do Algarve is planning to record another one double CD in 2006, with Mozart’s works. Having participated in some prestigious international music festivals, and having performed in Lisbon at the Teatro Municipal de S. Luiz as well as at the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, in 2004 the Orquestra do Algarve embarked in its first international tour, performing five highly acclaimed concerts in Milan, Pavia, Sondrio, Vercelli and Voghera, as like as in Spain, in June 2004. Although the core of its activity is devoted to concerts promoted by its founding municipalities, the Orquestra do Algarve is also supported by other organizations, and performs concerts for corporate sponsors of national and regional dimension.