Gonçalo Pires (cello), Raffaele Pagano (violin)

Experience inspiring performances by top emerging artists in our historic venue, renowned for its superb acoustics. Our recitals are programmed in collaboration with leading music colleges and charities, providing a platform for the stars of tomorrow. Discover exceptional talent in a unique settting.

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Programme

A. Vivaldi: Four Seasons (arr. for violin and cello R. Pagano)

Z. Kodaly: Duo Violin and Cello 1st Mov

R. Pagano: Sweet Insights

R. Pagano: Onore e Gloria

R. Pagano: Intuizioni

Handel/Halvorsen: Passacaglia

Artist Bio

Gonçalo Pires (b. 2002, Braga, Portugal) is an accomplished cellist whose musical career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral performances across Europe. He began his cello studies at the age of six under Jorge Ribeiro at the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatory in Braga. In 2020, he commenced his undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London, under the tutelage of Josephine Knight, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree with Hannah Roberts.

Gonçalo has performed at venues such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, St James Piccadilly Church, St James Sussex Gardens, collaborating with renowned ensembles including the Doric String Quartet, London Contemporary Soloists, London Film Music Orchestra (as a soloist), Academy Symphony Orchestra, Academy Chamber Orchestra and Harrow Symphony Orchestra (as a soloist). His international appearances also include performances in Lisbon, Braga, Porto, and Helsinki.

A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, Gonçalo’s accolades include First Prizes in the Martin/Hooton Concerto Prize 2024 (Royal Academy of Music), the Paços Brandão International Competition (Portugal), the Fundão International Competition (Portugal), the International Capela Competition (Portugal), the Soncello International Competition (Spain), the North International Music Competition (Sweden), and the International London Classic Music Competition (UK). His academic excellence has been further recognized with the Clarence Myerscough Award. He holds the Christopher Hogwood Award Audition Scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music.

In addition to his performing career, Gonçalo has participated in masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Marc Coppey, Gary Hoffman, and Ludwig Quandt. His work has also been featured on Portuguese National Television, and he has performed at significant events including the Day of Portugal celebrations at the Portuguese Embassy in London.

Gonçalo is honored to be supported by Talent Unlimited, where he looks forward to furthering his artistic career and sharing his passion for music with wider audiences.

Raffaele Pagano is an Italian violinist and composer. After being awarded as first prize in more than 20 competitions in Italy and playing in the theatre San Carlo Di Napoli and as concertmaster in several orchestras of his native city Naples, he moved to London to study with the legendary professor of Royal Academy of Music Hu Kun (the longest pupil of Lord Yehudi Menuhin)

In London he became the leader of London Arte Chamber Orchestra and from 3 years he started to compose music receiving his first prize in the 2nd edition of the international composition competition “Premio Metastasio” of Scalea (Italy)

His music is predominantly bound to the emotions and real feelings that Raffaele put on his violin first with improvisations and then with compositions.

He plays regularly with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and he is the concertmaster of Oxford Festival Orchestra. He collaborates with the agency Giardino Strings playing in all sort of events also with different styles of music like Pop, Bollywood, Irish, Persian, etc.. He teaches in Blackheath Conservatoire for the last 5 years.

Raffaele plays on a priceless violin made for him from the father of his first violin teacher 24 years ago and a precious bow from Cremona which he won in the international violin competition “Luigi Denza” 13 years ago.