ARTISTS
> MASTERCLASS > 20-22 Feb.

He is currently Principal Clarinet of the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Principal Professor of Clarinet at the Escola Superior de Artes Aplicadas de Castelo Branco. He was Guest Artist and Professor at Arizona State University (USA) in 2009 and 2010.

He completed his higher studies at ESMAE, in the class of Prof. António Saiote, and earned the Prix de Perfectionnement à l’Unanimité du Jury at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Région de Versailles in the class of Prof. Philippe Cuper.

He is a doctoral candidate in Education at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon.

He has been Adjunct Professor by public examination at IPCB since 2005.

He obtained the Specialist Title in 2012.

He was Artistic Director of the Festival Internacional de Música de Paços de Brandão from 2009 to 2012.

In Guimarães 2012 – European Capital of Culture, in the Master Pieces series, he was invited to be soloist in the world premiere of Mário Laginha’s Clarinet Concerto.

In 2013, he was appointed to the jury of the Directorate-General for the Arts in the Music area.

In 2015, at the Gala Concert of the World Clarinet Congress in Madrid, he was soloist together with Philippe Cuper and the Madrid Symphonic Band in the premiere of Lara by González Moreno.

In 2016, he was the Portuguese soloist at the presentation of Craiova’s candidacy (Romania) for European Capital of Culture, performing as soloist with the Orquestra Sinfónica de Ontélia in the Grande Ciclo Europe Seasons.

In 2017, he was soloist with the Banda Paramense at the Gala Concert of the European Clarinet Congress in Porto.

In 2018, he performed and recorded on CD the Clarinet Concerto by Mário Laginha with the Gulbenkian Orchestra of Lisbon.

In 2019, in Paris, he was awarded the Prix Musique Classique by the Institut du Monde Lusophone.

In December 2019, June 2020, and April 2024, he was soloist with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música in the Sala Suggia.

In 2021, he created the Castelo Branco International Clarinet Festival, of which he remains Artistic Director.

In 2023, he was honored with the Cultural Merit Medal by the Municipality of Nisa.

In 2024, he was Soloist in the “Year of Portugal” at Casa da Música with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto, performing Mário Laginha’s Clarinet Concerto.

He has won the most important National Competitions, 1st Prize at the Prémio Jovens Músicos, 1st Prize at Juventude Musical Portuguesa, and 1st Prize at the Costa Verde International Festival Competition.

He has been awarded at the International Competitions of Rome and the Aurelian Octav Popa International Competition in Romania, immediately embarking on an intense solo and chamber music career, which has expanded internationally to countries such as USA, Russia, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania, Macau, Brazil, etc.

He has performed as soloist with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Gulbenkian Orchestra of Lisbon, Orquestra Clássica da Madeira, Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orquestra Clássica do Porto, Orquestra Sinfonietta de Castelo Branco, Orquestra Clássica do Centro, Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa, Orquestra do Sul, Orquestra Artave, Orquestra Sinfónica de Constanza (Romania), Orquestra Sinfónica de Ontélia (Romania), J. Futura Orchestra (Italy), Orquestra Templários, Banda Sinfónica de Madrid, Banda da Guarda Nacional Republicana, Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa, Banda Sinfónica da Branca, and Banda Paramense.

He has over 50 CDs throughout his career. In his CD recorded in the USA, Recital in the West (2010), alongside acclaimed pianist Caio Pagano, the American press found the best interpretation of Brahms’ First Sonata: “This is undoubtedly the best version of the Brahms Sonata I have ever heard. Carlos Alves draws from the clarinet a beautiful and superb sound, with an excellent sense of musical phrasing throughout the entire work.” (Arizona Republic, July 2010) He recorded Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the Orquestra Clássica da Madeira for the EMI Classics label.

Carlos Piçarra Alves is a Buffet Crampon and Vandoren artist and is internationally one of the most acclaimed clarinetists of today.