Intergenerational experiences, unique opportunities for artists and audiences, artistic residencies, the creation and presentation of new projects, fruitful synergies, and planting the first seeds for future musical adventures are some of the points noted by Festival Cordas participants. Audiences add that it is a cultural immersion and an opportunity for interaction between players and professionals from the national and international music sectors.

“Cordas is not just any festival, just as Pico is not just any island,” says João da Ilha. “It’s always a wonderful experience of immersive musical living and sharing with each participant in this festival, always with new connections and friendships with other artists.” Terceirense already considers Pico a second home and presented his new album, Nove Cantos, to the Festival Cordas audience.

Rita Costa Medeiros is preparing her first album, which she has entirely conceived and produced, and for her, Cordas is “a personal and professional inspiration.” The young woman from Micael presented her original songs in the Alagar of the Pico Wine Museum. “And so we encourage creation,” admits Terry Costa, artistic director of MiratecArts and founder of Cordas. “The Cordas Festival manages to provide space, tools and a unique conviviality, perfect for creative thinkers, music producers, our people who want to do something beyond their little chapel.”

Filipe José Silva presented his new musical project, “Portugal de lés a lés,” highlighting the cavaquinho and taking the audience through the 13 regions of Portugal, including the islands. “Cordas has allowed me to take this challenging project out of the drawer and present an exclusive show of music from our songbook and with our instruments. The next step is to be able to present each of the songs with traditional Portuguese guitars and combine music with multimedia,” said the musician, who intends to develop the project further to promote it at festivals and concert halls.

Evandro Meneses shared the idea of his new project “Viola Intemporal”; Victor Castro plans to celebrate 30 years of his career with a new album; Marcos Fernandez Trio is preparing to leave the island of Pico, taking the music conceived here to other audiences; and so the MiratecArts collaborators continue to propose their work in the season of the cultural association, based on the island of Pico, even when they live elsewhere.

Azorean artists not yet part of the association’s network can join via miratecarts.com/registration and thus have more opportunities. “We are the biggest think-tank and artistic, cultural network in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” admits Terry Costa, “only those who want to participate. It is open to all.”

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks the Luso-American Education Foundation for sponsoring FILAMENTOS.