Portuguese composer and performer, José Brandão is currently studying composition at KASK & Conservatorium of Gent with Jesse Broekman and Joris Blankaert. He did his bachelor in ESMAE (Porto) under Rui Penha, Dimitris Andrikopoulos, Carlos Azevedo.

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He is particularly interested in music as a ritualistic act. He wants to explore aspects of rituals in his own music and broaden the concert situation, incorporating more performative elements.

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He won first prize in the 2024 Musa Composition Competition, with his piece "Foi isto que quisemos?"; in the 2020 Sayat Nova International Composition Competition, with his piece “Weep, Weep My muse” and in the FOLEFEST - 2020 composition competition with his piece “Uma Última Reflexão”. Won second prize in SPA/Antena 2 composition competition, with his piece “Ritual”. And was a finalist in Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa (BSP) - 2020 composition competition with his piece "Eclipse da Auto-Degradação".

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His work was performed in Carnegie Hall, Greenwich House Music School, Casa da Música, Concertgebouw Bruges, Miry Concertzaal and many others. He participated in the Lucerne Festival Composition Workshop, mentored by Unsuk Chin, where his piece “Rupture” was performed.