User talk:Rbettguitarra

Ruben Bettencourt

For many Music critics and lovers, Ruben Bettencourt is considered to be one of the best classic guitarists of his generation. His concerts stand out by his total commitment to Music and for the emotions he provides his public. More than a guitarist, he strives for the elegance and spontaneity that Music provides him.

He was born in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. He started his musical studies at the age of 6 with the Azorean teacher Victor Castro, initially in private lessons, continuing his studies in Conservatory of Angra do Heroísmo (Conservatório Regional de Angra do Heroísmo), where he obtained 19 (in an evaluation scale of 0-20) the area of Classical Guitar, Licenciature In Music at Aveiro University (Portugal) with Pedro Rodrigues and Paulo Vaz de Carvalho (2006-2009, 19 points), Master’s in Music at the prestigious “Conservatorium Maastricht” with renowed Carlo Marchione (2009 – 2011, 9 points (scale 0-10)). Between 2009 and 2011, he got a Masters schorlaship, at exceptional title, from Science and Technology Foundation, the Minister of Culture of Portuguese Government. In 2014, invited and sponsored, he starts his Doctor Music of Arts at University of Toronto (Canada).

He presented himself in Portugal (Azores Islands and the mainland), Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Morroco, Canada and USA.

He was invited to world premiere pieces by Victor Castro, Konstatin Vassiliev, Janko Raseta, Matthew Dunne, Mathias Duplessy, among others, to give solo concerts and master classes in various national and international festivals such as; “Elogio da Guitarra” (Guarda – 2009) and “Ciclo da Bairrada 09” (2009 – Oliveira do Bairro), “Temporada de Música”(Azores, 2010), “Festival de Música de Coimbra 2010” (Coimbra 2010), Guitarmania 2011 (Almada – Lisbon), TEDxAveiro (Aveiro 2011), “Cooperatives Day” at Main Portuguese Parlament, “Autumn Festival” (Aveiro – Portugal, 2012), “Larache Guitar Festival” (Morroco, 2012), “XIII Certamen Julian Arcas” (Almeria – Spain, 2013), along with others.

He presented himself in concert in big venues such as: The National Conservatory (Conservatório Nacional), The National Library (Biblioteca Nacional), Palácio Foz (The Foz Palace) (with recording for Portuguese Radio – Antena 2), The Joanina Library – Universiy of Coimbra (Biblioteca Joanina), Noble Hall of Main Portuguese Parlament, Consulate of Portugal in San Francisco (USA), Consulate of Portugal in Toronto (Canada) among others.

He has been with more than 50 names in improvement courses such as: Hubert Käppel, Roberto Aussel, Judicäel Perroy, Aniello Desiderio, Alberto Ponce, Alvaro Pierri, Denis Azabagic, Graham Devine, Laura Young, Zoran Duckíc, Tilman Hoppstock, Franz Halász, Fábio Zanon, Goran Krivocapic, David Martinez, Ricardo Gallén, etc.

He was rewarded 22 times in competitions such as: - “ VII Concurso Internacional de Guitarra – III Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Leiria” – Leiria, Portugal (2010 – 1st Prize and prize for best interpreter of Portuguese music); - " IV Concurso Norba Caeserina” - Spain (2010 –2nd Prize); - “World Guitar Competition 2011” – Servia (2011 –2nd Prize); - “Omis Guitar Festival 2011” – Croatia (2011 – 2nd Prize); -“V Concurso Norba Caeserina” – Spain (2011 – 3rd Prize); - “Omis Guitar Festival 2012”- Croatia (2012 – 3rd Prize) - “Musicaldas’12” – Portugal (2012 – (2º Prize) (competition for all instruments, 1st time “guitar” won a prize in 10 years in history of festival); - “XIV Festival de Guitarra Ciutat D’Elx” – Spain (2012 – 1st Prize); - “VI Concurso Norba Caeserina” – Spain (2012 – 2nd Prize) - “14th Edition Guitar Art” – Serbia ( 2013 – 3rd Prize) - “XV Festival de Guitarra de Sernancelhe” – Portugal (2013 - 2nd Prize and Best Portuguese Prize).

In 2014, Ruben will record his first CD, which will be mainly pieces dedicated to him from alive composers. Since 2014, he has as sponsors D’Ornellas Boots, Guitarplayernails.com, Carvalhos Union Transportations, Fundation “Jardim José do Canto”, Anfiteatro Lounge, Grupo Brodheim, Pelcor and the portuguese/azorean Airliner, SATA.

He made in present year the debut with Mission Chamber Orchestra representing the “Portugal Day” in USA, and as well with Orchestra of Conservatory of Ponta Delgada world premiere “Fantasie for Guitar and Orchestra” by Antero Avila.

Recorded to Main Portuguese TV (RTP, RTP Açores, RTP2), Main portuguese Radio (RDP – Antena 2), RTV1 (PTB1) (Radio Television Vojvodine – Serbia), Gente Nossa TV (Canada), Omni TV (Canada), FPTV (Canada),  highlighted on main portuguese press as “Jornal de Notícias”, “Publico”, and as “Portuguese of the Week” on “Correio da Manhã”.

“It was (…) as a solo guitarist that his technical skills, artistic sensibility, musical intelligence and professional sense stroke me as it rarely happen in a teacher’s life (…)” - António Chagas Rosa, Composer, October 2009

“Technique and passion on Ruben Bettencourt today morning concert in “Casa de las Mariposas”. Diferent and Brilliant guitarrist” - International Guitar Festival Júlian Arcas - Almería (Spain), October 2013

www.rubenbettencourt.com (Web)