Since 2019, citizens have celebrated October 2 as Viola da Terra Day, made official in 2023 by Resolution No. 20/2023/A of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

This year, the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, São Jorge, and Pico have already presented a program to celebrate Viola da Terra Day.

On Wednesday, in Santa Maria, it’s at the Atlântida Cine Centro Cultural with an exhibition dedicated to the viola, a round table “Viola da Terra, tradition and entity,” and the young Marienses, Engengroaldenga, taking to the stage.

On the 2nd, São Miguel, with the Viola da Terra Youth Association, brings the exhibition “Violas dos Açores” to the Povoação Municipal Auditorium, together with a musical concert featuring Raquel Dutra, Duo Toadas and guests. The program continues on the 5th, on the Green Island, with the “2 Corações – A Viola que nos Une” concert at the Ribeiragrandense Theatre, promoted by the INATEL Foundation. Musician Rafael Carvalho is taking the Viola to various schools on the island, and builder Hugo Raposo has his workshop open in the center of Ponta Delgada.

The island of Terceira, through Sons do Terreiro – Associação Cultural, is celebrating the day with didactic work at the Angra do Heroísmo Regional Conservatory, extending the program to the 4th, with “Roda de Viola”, a meeting of viola players, at the headquarters of the Grupo de Baile da Canção Regional. Also, on the 11th, in the António Dacosta Auditorium at the Tomás de Borba School, there will be a concert by the Mariense duo Engengroaldenga.

The builder Raimundo Leonardes is taking part in the school program at EBI do Topo, and his workshop, located in this parish in São Jorge, will be open from 3pm on October 2 to welcome the most curious.

On the island of Pico, the Cordas Festival kicks off on October 1, with an invitation to all Viola da Terra players to take part in the opening event at the Madalena Library Auditorium; October 2 is dedicated to school visits by Marcos Fernandez and the Viola dos dois corações. On the 5th, the Madalena Auditorium hosts Bruno Bettencourt’s Viola Terceirense, among other events celebrating Viola da Terra.

Viola da Terra Day belongs to everyone and for everyone; events celebrating the region’s most unique instrument can be published on the official diadavioladaterra.com page for better online sharing.