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BIOGRAPHY
Carla began playing the flute aged twelve learning with Rita Vig at the Madeira Island Conservatoire. She remained at the Conservatoire until, at the age of fifteen she was accepted into the Escola Profissional de Música de Espinho, a vocational school for gifted young musicians in Porto.
Whilst in Madeira Carla quickly gained an enviable reputation, which led to her being invited to join the Island’s leading folk group, Encontros da Eira. Carla features on three out of the band’s four CD’s and continues to perform live with them whenever possible. With Encontros da Eira she has toured Venezuela, Portugal, Paris, England and Spain. Through being a member of Encontros, Carla has been invited to perform with some of the greatest names in world music like VÃtor Sardinha, António Chainho, José António Ramos and Chico Lobo.
In 2004 Carla was offered a scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music to study with Richard Davis and Linda Verrier. During her undergraduate studies she also had lessons from Michael Cox and piccolo with Jo Bodington. Whilst at the RNCM Carla has played in nearly all of the College Ensembles, this included, as principal flute of the Wind Orchestra, performances in Tewksbury Abbey and at the 2008 BBC Proms.
Carla is a member of the young professional wind quintet, Souza Winds. They formed whilst all members were studying at the RNCM and have featured in most of the College’s festivals, specializing in contemporary music. This has led to a project that will be completed in January in a performance of three commissions. Souza winds have been semi-finalists in the Annual Royal Overseas League competition and were invited to participate in the Tunnell Trusts Blair Athol showcase week. They have been accepted onto the Music in Hospitals and Live Music Now! Schemes.
Carla has been a very successful soloist, performing concertos with orchestras in Madeira, Porto and Manchester. She has performed recitals in St Ann’s Church, Whitworth Art Gallery, St Werburgh’s Church, Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias and in the Didsbury Coffee concert series.
Carla was awarded the Woods and Cadlin Prize from the RNCM in recognition of her exceptional solo playing. In July 2008 she was invited to premiere works for solo flute by Anthony Gillbert and Andy Scott in a leaving concert for Professor Edward Gregson. As part of this project she also performed world premieres of ten chamber music works.
Upon completion of her undergraduate studies Carla was awarded a First Class Honors Degree. She has since returned to the RNCM and was given a scholarship to join the Masters of Music in Performance course.