Agostinho Sequeira - The young virtuoso who turns percussion into magic
- Joana Marques
- 22 de ago. de 2024
- 5 min de leitura
By Joana Patacas, on March 17, 2024*
Rhythm is the universal language of the percussionist, and there are artists who stand out for speaking this language with incomparable mastery. Agostinho Sequeira , an unavoidable name in the panorama of Portuguese percussion, is one of these virtuosos.
Born in 1998 in Almada, he stands out as an excellent narrator through percussion. His musical journey began in Lisbon, at the Escola Profissional Metropolitana , under the guidance of masters Marco Fernandes, Andreu Rico and Miguel Herrera. However, it wasn't long before his talent and relentless pursuit of improvement led him to the prestigious Conservatorium Van Amsterdam in 2016, where he learned with renowned percussionists such as Nick Woud, Arnold Marinissen and Peter Prommel.
He elevated his art to internationally recognized levels of excellence when he won the prestigious “ Tromp International Percussion Competition ” in Eindhoven, having also received the press and public award.
"There is a sense of magic in his performance, and an absolute commitment," wrote the jury of the 50th International Tromp Percussion Competition in 2020 ( Wonderfeel , 2022).
This victory, which also ended up being the victory of Portuguese percussionists, culminated a series of previous recognitions, such as the “Young Musicians Award” in 2014, in the percussion category – intermediate level –, and was later acclaimed with the award “ Maestro Silva Pereira - Young Musician of the Year 2016 ”. He received a scholarship from the Jan Pustjens Foundation in 2017, and the following year he won 1st prize at the “ Gondomar International Percussion Competition ”. In 2019, he was admitted to the ARD international music competition, the largest international classical music competition in Germany, where he reached the second round.
He has also performed as a soloist with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Het Ballet Orkest Amsterdam, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfónica Ensemble and the Amsterdam Conservatory Symphony Orchestra.
“We combine the diversity and flexibility of our personal backgrounds and our own instrument to create an experience that touches the listener in a spiritual way. Percussion can be found in every corner of the world and has a primal power that speaks to us all.”, Agostinho Sequeira about the group ' On The Run ' ( Splendor Amsterdam , 2022)
Currently living in Berlin, Agostinho focuses mainly on solo percussion repertoire and chamber music, collaborating with several ensembles including Toonzetters ensemble , Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Ereprijs ensemble and ICK Dans Amsterdam.
In this exclusive interview with ProART , given to Joana Patacas (JP) , Agostinho Sequeira , the percussion wizard, tells us how music entered his life, talks to us about the main challenges he faced in his career and his plans for the future.
JP: Hello Agostinho! It’s a privilege to have you here for this conversation. Tell us, when did you discover your passion for art?
Agostinho : Hello, Joana, thank you for the invitation. For as long as I can remember, I have been involved in art and, in particular, music. My father is a musician and, as a result, I started playing drums when I was little, which eventually led me into the world of classical percussion.
JP: Was your father your biggest influence?
Agostinho: Yes, without a doubt. I thank my father for opening the doors for me to make art my life. In general terms, in the world of percussion, the people who inspire me the most are Pedro Carneiro and Peter Prommel, among others.
JP: What were the biggest challenges you faced in your artistic career?
Agostinho : Leaving Portugal for the Netherlands when I was just 18 years old was a huge challenge, both artistically and personally. At a time when I was starting to gain some recognition in Portugal and entering the job market, it was basically like starting over from scratch in a country where I was completely unknown and where I had to work hard to get opportunities.
JP: What was your first major achievement or recognition in the artistic world?
Agostinho : In Portugal, I would say it was the Maestro Silva Pereira Award – Young Musician of the Year in 2016. But the most significant moment in my career was winning the Tromp International Percussion Competition in Eindhoven in 2020. It marked a high point, which reflected all the effort and dedication I have invested in percussion over the years.
JP: And is there any performance, work or project that you feel particularly proud of?
Augustine: Yes, several. Playing solo with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in 2017 was a highlight for me, as was a solo recital at the Centro Cultural de Belém in 2018. In the Netherlands, I would highlight the opportunity to play solo with Het Ballet Orkest in 2021 and, more recently, in 2022/2023, the opportunity to present my performances at the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Since 2022, I have been part of a group called Toonzetters, composed of two pianists and two percussionists. With this group, we have performed around 20 times and recorded a CD that includes 20 works of three minutes each, commissioned from 20 emerging composers.
JP: Is there any interesting fact or curiosity about yourself that you would like to share?
Agostinho : I was born and raised in Portugal, but my father's family has origins in Goa, India.
JP: What are your hobbies or leisure activities?
Augustine: Playing and watching sports, travelling and going to shows. I am fascinated by opera, but I am also interested in other musical styles, including bossa nova, and bands like Pink Floyd and The Beatles.
JP: What do you hope to achieve in the coming years?
Augustine: I hope to have more opportunities to present my performances, which will focus on very specific themes, such as "From Beatles to Stockhausen", which explores the connection between the Beatles and classical composers; "In Touch", which is a performance about the connection between our inner being (soul) and our social being; and "Revolution 19", a performance inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy: "I am because we are". At the same time, I intend to contribute to the development of percussion as a solo instrument in orchestras, by encouraging the creation of new percussion concertos.
JP: Is there anything in particular you want to share with your audience or a message you want to convey?
Augustine: I would love for you to go see a percussion concert. I believe you will be surprised by what this instrument offers: diversity, surprise, energy, delicacy and a very primary relationship with our existence as humans.
Interview with percussion wizard Agostinho Sequeira originally published at www.proart.art/notícias
* Joana Patacas - Communication and Content Consulting
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