Gonçalo Pires Cellist
        

Gonçalo Pires, born in 2002 in Braga, Portugal, began his cello studies at the age of six under the tutelage of Jorge Ribeiro at the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatory in Braga. In 2020, he commenced his undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Josephine Knight, Alfredo Piatti Professor of Cello. After graduating in 2024, Gonçalo entered the first year of his Master's program, where he continues his studies with Hannah Roberts, Jacqueline Du Pré Professor of Cello.

Over the past few years, Gonçalo has performed widely as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral cellist. In the UK, he has collaborated with the Doric String Quartet, London Contemporary Soloists, London Film Music Orchestra, Academy Symphony Orchestra, Academy Chamber Orchestra, Harrow Symphony Orchestra (as a soloist), Westminster Ensemble, Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, the London City Philharmonic, among others. He has also performed in duo recitals at venues such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, St James Piccadilly Church, Faversham Parish Church, St James Sussex Gardens and Christ Church. In Portugal, he has worked with the Orquestra XXI, the University of Minho Symphonic Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of the Portuguese Conservatories of Music (as principal cellist) and the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatory Orchestra of Braga (as a soloist) and he has performed in duo recitals in Lisbon, Braga, Porto, Ponte de Lima, and Serpa. Additionally, he participated in cello ensemble concerts in London, Santo Tirso with Marc Coppey, and the International Cello Festival in Helsinki, Finland. 

Gonçalo performed in a Portugal National Park promotional video and recorded a Cello and Piano piece by composer Ryan Nicholas at Steinway Studios. He has also been featured on Portuguese National Television, served as a speaker at the Portuguese Talented Students Congress, and performed at the celebrations of the Day of Portugal at the Portuguese Embassy in London.

He has participated in several masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Marc Coppey, Christophe Coin, Gary Hoffman, Amit Peled, Sung-Won Yang, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Claudio Bohórquez, Lluís Claret, Martti Rousi, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Daniel Grosgurin, Maria de Macedo, Bozidar Vukotic, Adrien Brendel and Ludwig Quandt.

Since 2019, Gonçalo has achieved notable success in various international competitions, including First Prizes in the Martin/Hooton Concerto Prize 2024 (Royal Academy of Music), the North International Music Competition (Sweden), the Chamber Music category of the International London Classic Music Competition (UK), the Paços Brandão International Competition (Portugal), the Fundão International Competition (Portugal), the International Capela Competition (Portugal), and the Soncello International Competition (Spain). He also obtained second prizes at the Vigo Music Competition (Spain), the Braga Young Talents Award (Portugal), “À Corda” International Competition Portugal (Portugal), 3rd Prize of Vienna Classical Music Competition and a Commendation in the Martin/Hooton Cello Concerto Prize 2022 (UK). Additionally, he received the Golden Buzzer and 2nd Prize on Got Talent Portugal and he was selected as a semifinalist of the 2024 London Concerto Competition. First Prizes in several Online Competitions: Royal Maas International Competition, Gold International Competition and Platinum and Diamond Prizes at the Debussy International Competition.

In the academic year 2022/23, he had the honor of receiving the Clarence Myerscough Award by the Royal Academy of Music, in recognition of his excellent contribution to the Academy and dedication to his studies and the Christopher Hogwood Award Audition Scholarship.