PERSONAL DETAILS

Full name: PIRES, FRANCISCO Manuel Prego de Ochôa e Azevedo

Nationality: Portuguese (born in Lourenzo Marques, Mozambique)

DOB: 17:12:62

Marital status: Married

Address: Rua Augusto Gil, 41 - 4460-211 Senhora da Hora, Porto, Portugal

Mob.: (+355) 932 687 548 / (+355) 964 644 718

Fax. : (+355) 220 125 439

E-Mail: [email protected]

PROFILE

My career has led me to specialize increasingly in the management of complex multi-cultural projects and their staffs at international levels. I have experience in: strategic forward-planning; operating within the tight financial disciplines imposed by ambitious budgets which I have helped to plan; methodical administration to deadlines (not to speak of crisis management where necessary); and the application of modern leadership methods (through staff motivation and involvement in both decision-making and target-setting, clarity in communication, and easy personal inter-relations). My own cosmopolitan background and analytical interests in other cultures, together with a command of several European languages, have also left me confident in handling negotiations that require the reconciliation of different national approaches to otherwise common problems.

Skills Base

Familiarity with both the artistic and the commercial worlds, the culture of government, and European regulations

Tested management techniques in both continental and British contexts

Proven leadership and human management skills

Budget design and monitoring

Time-efficient, systematic working methodology

Rapid adaptability to new problem-solving and new locations

Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian

IT: Word, Excel, Windows

Clean driving license

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

Head of Public and Building Services at The Casa da Música Concert-Hall (Porto)

September 2006 - Present

Head of Public Services at the Casa da Música, responsible for:

Coordination and management of the Front of the House staff team and services

Coordination and management of the information desk and call centre team

Coordination and management of the guided building tours team

Coordination and management of the commercial department, which is responsible for the commercial exploitation of The Casa da Música's facilities, either for private or corporate functions, shows, etc.

Coordination and management of the contracts and activities of the outsourcing companies responsible for the catering and parking at The Casa da Música.

Head of Building Services at the Casa da Música, responsible for:

Coordination and management of the Maintenance team, responsible for the building's maintenance.

Coordination and management of the outsourcing companies of Security and Cleaning.

Consultant for multi-cultural projects mainly in the following matters:

Strategic Planning for multi-cultural projects.

Establishing a venue's main purpose in line with the artistic project;

Definition of a building's specifications for architectural programmes;

Design and planning of the organizational structure and future operational strategy for the uses of activities in different venues.

Planning and definition of requisite profiles for different departments, from Production and Maintenance to Marketing and Front of House staff.

Creator and Director of the course "Specialization on Production and Management of Performing Arts Events", held at "Universidade Lusófona" the largest private University in Portugal. T

his course provides wide information about the different aspects and specialized matters involved in the management and production of cultural events and venues.

Production and Operational Director of the Casa da Música Concert-Hall (Porto)

April 2005 - August 2006

Production and Operational Director of the Casa da Música, responsible for:

Coordination of the Production team (stage, light and sound technicians) and the production of Casa da Música events (Pop, Rock, Jazz, World Music, Classical and Contemporary Music performances - .educational workshops - exhibitions and multimedia installations - conferences - receptions, etc.)

Coordination of the Maintenance team, responsible for the building's maintenance

Coordination of the outsourcing companies working for Casa da Música such as, Catering, Security and Cleaning.

Production Director and General Coordinator of the Casa da Música Concert-Hall Project (Porto)

1999/2005

(The Concert Hall was designed by the acclaimed 'Pritzker' prize-winner, the Dutch Architect, Rem Koolhaas. A multi-auditorium venue for music and a base for musicians, its role is to celebrate the whole spectrum of music-making [including recording] and so to eliminate cultural barriers to communication between performers and audiences. For further details see www.casadamusica.com)

Responsibilities

Oversight and execution of all building specifications and the launch of the architectural programme:

Supervision of the project's development in close cooperation with the architect's office (OMA), often in Rotterdam, in order to optimize its functionality and future operation with special reference to acoustics, sight-lines, seating and public space in separate parts of the building dedicated to different uses

Planning and definition of the conditions for concessionary spaces in the building

Planning, definition of requisite profiles for the Production and Technical areas, including team responsible for the provision of lighting, sound, video, scenography and acoustics

Design of future operational strategy for the uses of activities in the building

Production planning of, and budgeting for, the season's performances (up to 12 months ahead) in close association with the Head of Artistic Planning

Key Achievements

Mastery and detailed application of highly complex brief comprehending the overall development of the project

Successful negotiating at national and international levels

Technical and Production Director of 'PORTO 2001 - European Cultural Capital' (Head-hunted)

1999/2001

Responsibilities

Coordination of production and execution of all musical events programmed for Porto's year as European Cultural Capital. This involved over 200 musical performances ranging from opera, concerts by classical and symphony orchestras, period music (Rennaissance and Baroque) and recitals, to contemporary musical ensembles, jazz, and Fado etc.

Coordination of up to 800 visiting technicians overall for the various productions brought in at different times during 2001

Key Achievement

Major regional, national, and international musical impact.

Concerts Manager for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Glasgow)

1997/1999

Responsibilities

Coordination of 100 orchestral players

Clockwork organization of all concerts, numerous tours in the UK and overseas, recording sessions etc.

Arrangements concerning visiting conductors and soloists

Key Achievements

Rapid familiarization with UK standards, professional requirements, and networks

Successful communication with British players and technical staff

Acquisition of new personal perspective on sophisticated working procedures and company organization schemes in another culture (especially given that I was the first Portuguese citizen to be appointed to orchestral-management levels in the UK)

General Manager/Orchestra Manager of Orquestra Nacional do Porto, the Oporto Symphony Orchestra

1989/1997

Member of the team that was set up to create the previously named 'Orquestra Clássica do Porto' and 'Orquestra do Porto da Régie Cooperativa Sinfonia'

Responsibilities

Programming all orchestral activities, such as rehearsals, concerts, tours and recording sessions

Detailed budget forecasting for each season in conjunction with the Board of Directors

Supporting the Artistic and Musical Director over the programming of the concert season, booking conductors, soloists and extra players for the orchestra

Dealing with 50 players of 33 different nationalities from five continents

Founder and Partner of 'ESTREIA - Agência de Espectáculos, Lda', an Artistic Agency

1994/1996

Responsibilities

Organization and production of artistic events e.g.

- Musicals: 'Porgy and Bess' with the New York Harlem Company; the 'Macdonald's Sisters' (Negro Spirituals and Gospel);

- Dance: 'Ballet Nacional de España' (Spain);

- Orchestral Tours: 'Orquestra Sinfónica da Galicia' (Spain); 'Orchestra of Yale University' (USA); Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa' (Lisbon);

- Events for Private Sponsors: chamber-music concerts, dancing and singing performances

Contracting artistes: musicians, dancers, actors, performers etc.

Technical advisers to 'Coliseu do Porto' (the biggest Concert Hall in Oporto City - 3,200 seats)

Export Department of 'Tudor Group - Batteries and Dry Cells' (the largest European producer of batteries and dry cells)

1987/1989

Responsibility

Fostering commercial relations with the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Zaire, Ivory Coast and Spain

Various Departments in 'AGRIA-WERKE', Portugal - Agricultural Machines Ltd

1976/1987

Responsibilities

Assistant to the Executive Director (from 1985)

Sales Manager responsible for all salesmen and agencies around the country

Supervision of the invoicing process and computer system in Accounts

EDUCATION (by part-time study after work)

Lusíada University of Lisbon

1982/1987

Graduate in History, with Honours

(Consequently invited to teach at university level)

Gregorian Institute of Lisbon

1979/1983

General Music Studies including a singing course

CULTURAL INTERESTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION

History, music, sociology, psychology

Working-out and swimming

* The Casa da Música:

Created out of the program of activities undertaken during Porto's year as European Capital of Culture in 2001, the Casa da Música is designed to enable the performance and recording of classical, folk, popular and progressive music in the different auditoria and recording studios contained within its spectacular building. The highest standards of public service are offered to the people of Porto and its region on a specifically non-elitist basis so as to widen musical involvement. The Casa da Música structure encompasses an Education and Research Department which is focus on the schools sector and socially deprived areas of the city through the floating and design of special projects, plus a publishing and music research program. Casa's artistic project also included the creation of an Ensemble of Contemporary Music in the year 2000, the Remix Ensemble, which is becoming a reference in the European contemporary music groups. These initiatives further include the Opera Studio, which already provides a post-graduate training for young singers.