Second year percussionist André Nadais has been named as the latest in a long line of RNCM students to be awarded a prestigious Yamaha Scholarship.
The 19-year-old, who was born in Portugal in 1997, began his studies at the Music Conservatory of Jobra before joining the RNCM as an undergraduate in 2015. He has won numerous prizes to date, including First Prizes at the 2014 Contest Tomarimbando, and the 2015 Portuguese Young Musician of the Year Competition.
Yamaha’s James Sargeant commented: ‘We are always keen to support excellence in the next generation of emerging musicians. We have supported a number of exceptional RNCM students in recent years and we look forward to helping Andre reach new heights in his musical development.’
Simone Rebello, Director of Percussion at the RNCM and herself a Yamaha Artist, commented: ‘Andre is an exceptionally talented and versatile solo percussionist with a very promising and exciting career ahead of him. I am delighted that Yamaha have chosen to support this young musician with this award and I am looking forward to working with Andre while he continues his study in the RNCM Percussion Department.’
André now joins a distinguished group of RNCM musicians to be awarded a Yamaha Scholarship, including fellow percussionist Le Yu, a current Yamaha Artist and one of the College’s Honorary Associate Artists.
In September André was the concerto soloist in the RNCM String Orchestra’s autumn concert, and on Friday 28 October he took to the stage again to perform Tansy Davies’ Dark Ground for solo percussion as part of a two-day festival focussing on the work of the British composer.
