The International Music Courses Association (ACIM) is celebrating the 30th edition of the SIPO festival between July 4 and 25. Initiated by its founder, pianist Manuela Gouveia, SIPO began with a small group of professors and has expanded to include four or five instructors and numerous international participants over the years.
This year’s festival includes Manuela Gouveia (Portugal/Belgium), James Giles (United States), Boris Berman (United States/Russia), Andrea Bonatta (Italy), and Jorge Luis Prats (Cuba/United States) among its teachers.
Over 20 students from 14 countries across Europe, Asia, and America will attend the masterclasses, which are designed to provide intensive interaction between students and instructors over nine days. Each participant will have the opportunity to perform in a concert.
Continuing a tradition since 2000, SIPO will launch with an exhibition of sculptures by Maria Leal da Costa, followed by the opening performance of the Mário Laginha Quarteto on July 9 at the Caldas da Rainha Cultural and Congress Center (CCC).
The concert lineup features solo recitals by pianists such as Artur Pizarro playing works by J.S. Bach and Franz Schubert (July 11), Boris Berman performing John Cage and Claude Debussy (July 12), Andrea Bonatta with compositions by W.A. Mozart, Franz Liszt, and Debussy (July 14), James Giles interpreting Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and Earl Wild (July 15), and Jorge Luis Prats with works by Isaac Albéniz (July 16).
This year, Manuela Gouveia will join violinist Eliseu Silva for a performance of Beethoven’s works on July 13.
Additionally, SIPO welcomes laureates from the ACIM/Antena2 Prize, including pianists Arturo Abellán and Thomas Filipiuk, who will perform in recitals across Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos, and Lisbon from July 10 to 21.
Highlighting its international collaboration, SIPO presents “The Meeting of Japan with Europe” on July 24 at the CCC Caldas da Rainha, showcasing pianist Jun Kanno and shamisen master Mozibei Tokiwazu V.
In partnership with the QuebraJazz Arts Festival in Coimbra, this rare musical fusion features traditional Japanese ‘tokiwazu’, recognized as intangible cultural heritage by the Japanese government.
The SIPO festival will conclude on July 25 at the Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra in Óbidos with a performance of Gioachino Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle,” conducted by António Sérgio Ferreira, featuring Beatriz David (harmonium), Luís Duarte (piano), and the Porto Ensemble Choir.
The 30th SIPO program also includes a lecture by maestro and composer Alexandre Delgado on July 15.
With several free-entry shows and a fixed price of 12.50 euros for other concerts, SIPO continues to be a distinguished event in Portugal’s artistic education landscape, fostering dialogue across generations, styles, and geographies.
The festival is supported by the municipalities of Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos and is awaiting the outcome of its funding application to the Directorate-General for the Arts, which has supported SIPO in past editions.
