Simone Menezes

Menezes was born in Brasília. She studied piano, flute and conducting at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). This university ranks first in the list of best universities in Latin America according to the British magazine Times Higher Education.{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/campinas-regiao/noticia/2018/07/18/unicamp-fica-em-primeiro-lugar-no-ranking-de-melhores-universidades-da-america-latina-pela-2a-vez-seguida.ghtml|title=Unicamp fica em primeiro lugar no ranking de melhores universidades da América Latina pela 2ª vez seguida|website=G1|date=18 July 2018 |language=pt-br|access-date=2019-08-14}}

At the age of 20, she created her first orchestra,{{cite web|url=http://www.clicknoticia.com.br/default.asp?not_codigo=822|title=Click Notícia by Comunicativa|website=www.clicknoticia.com.br}} the young symphonic orchestra of Campinas – Unicamp. She obtained sponsorship from the Petrobras to develop the young orchestra, perform tours and record,{{cite web|url=http://www.guilhermenascimento.com/pt/flv_portfolio/novos-universos-sonoros-unicamp-2009-orquestra-sinfonica-da-unicamp/|title=Novos Universos Sonoros|website=Guilherme Nascimento|language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}} subsequently going to Europe to study.

In 2007–2008, she obtained a scholarship to study at the École normale de musique de Paris{{cite web|url=http://www.concertspasdeloup.fr/Simone-Menezes.html|title=Simone Menezes – Concerts Pasdeloup|website=www.concertspasdeloup.fr|access-date=2019-08-14}} where she was awarded her diploma after only one year of study. In parallel, she studied with Colin Metters in London and developed contemporary music repertoire while residing with the Remix Ensemble (Portugal) and Ensemble Multilatérale (Paris).

She also participated in masterclasses with Paavo Järvi, Neeme Järvi, Gennady Rozhdestvensky and {{ill|Cláudio Cruz|pt}}.

On her return to Brazil, from 2008 until 2012 she assumed the direction of the Unicamp Symphony Orchestra and became, after Ligia Amadio, only the second woman to be a conductor of a professional orchestra in Brazil. While at the orchestra of UNICAMP, her project "Panorama da Musica Brasileira" received the prize awarded by the São Paulo State Association of Critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.ciddic.unicamp.br/ciddic/osu/panorama-da-musica-brasileira/|title=Panorama da Música Brasileira|date=2018-01-19|website=CIDDIC|language=pt-BR|access-date=2019-08-15}} She developed several multidisciplinary projects including dance, music, technology and premiered more than 20 works.{{cite web|url=http://www.osmc.com.br/novo/noticias/399/festival-de-musica-contemporanea-e-tecnologia--unicamp.aspx|title=OSMC|website=www.osmc.com.br|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ciddic.unicamp.br/ciddic/simone-menezes/|title=Simone Menezes|last=Douglas|date=2018-01-15|website=CIDDIC|language=pt-BR|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.funarte.gov.br/musica/xxi-bienal-de-musica-brasileira-contemporanea/|title=XXI Bienal de Música Brasileira Contemporânea|website=Funarte – Portal das Artes|access-date=2019-08-14}}

In 2013, she founded and directed the "Camerata Latino Americana",{{cite web|url=http://estadodacultura.sp.gov.br/evento/2605/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810131907/http://estadodacultura.sp.gov.br/evento/2605/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 10, 2019|title=Festival de Campos do Jordão: Camerata Latino Americana|last=Cultura|first=SP Estado da|date=2016-06-15|website=SP Estado da Cultura|language=pt-BR|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=https://www.movimento.com/2014/10/camerata-latino-americana/|title=Camerata Latino-Americana|date=2014-10-08|website=Movimento.com|language=pt-BR|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/institutocpfl/docs/livro_suite_|title=Suíte Contemporânea Brasileira|website=Issuu|date=27 May 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tratore.com.br/um_cd.php?id=9865|title=Eu recomendo: Suíte Contemporânea Brasileira – Camerata Latino Americana, Simone Menezes|website=tratore.com.br|language=pt-br|access-date=2019-08-14|archive-date=2019-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814195940/https://tratore.com.br/um_cd.php?id=9865|url-status=dead}} an ensemble specialized in the interpretation of Latin American repertoire and attracted the attention of the ISPA International Society for the Performing Arts of New York and the Association of British Orchestras in London.

In 2014, she founded with the pianist Sonia Rubinsky the "Villa Lobos Project", a project dedicated to promoting the work of the composer Villa-Lobos and classical Brazilian music internationally;{{cite web|url=https://notesonnotespodcast.com/2019/03/07/2-an-interview-with-simone-menezes/|title=#2: An Interview with Simone Menezes|date=2019-03-07|website=Notes on Notes Podcast|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.villalobosproject.com/aboutsobre.html|title=Villa-Lobos Project – About|website=Meu Site|language=pt|access-date=2019-08-14|archive-date=2019-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810131906/https://www.villalobosproject.com/aboutsobre.html|url-status=dead}} the development of a reflection on Brazilian identity in partnership with other artists, researchers and the general public; the realization of artistic and cultural projects such as concerts, masterclasses and publications.

Since 2014, she has been mentored by Paavo Järvi and works as his assistant on several projects.{{cite web|url=https://www.hellostage.com/blog/2016-08-08-Artist-of-the-Week-Meet-Brazilian-Conductor-Simone-Menezes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810004154/https://www.hellostage.com/blog/2016-08-08-Artist-of-the-Week-Meet-Brazilian-Conductor-Simone-Menezes|archive-date=2018-08-10|title=Hello Stage Blog – Meet Brazilian Conductor Simone Menezes|date=2018-08-10|access-date=2019-08-15}}

In 2019, she was awarded second prize in the European competition MAWOMA (Master Woman Orchestra) for female orchestra conductors at the Musikverein in Vienna.{{cite web |url=https://mawoma-awards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MAWOMA-Communique-de-presse-11032019-UK.pdf |title=MAWOMA press release |publisher=mawoma-awards.com |date=2019 |access-date=2019-11-11 |archive-date=2022-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123194604/https://mawoma-awards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MAWOMA-Communique-de-presse-11032019-UK.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://br.rfi.fr/brasil/20190413-brasil-mundo-simone-menezes-finalista-do-europeia-premio-mawoma|title=Brasil-Mundo - Brasileira Simone Menezes é finalista do 1° concurso mundial de regentes mulheres em Viena|date=April 13, 2019|website=RFI}}{{cite web|url=http://kammerorchester.com/artistde/349/|title=Artist | Wiener KammerOrchester | Page 349}}{{cite web|url=https://mawoma-awards.com/selectionnees/?lang=fr|title=SÉLECTIONNÉES}} In the same year, she made her Japanese debut with the Osaka Symphony Orchestra and Chofu International Music Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.chofu-culture-community.org/div/mail-/pdf/CIMF2019.pdf |title=Festival brochure |publisher=www.chofu-culture-community.org |date=2019 |access-date=2019-11-11 |archive-date=2019-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810131906/http://www.chofu-culture-community.org/div/mail-/pdf/CIMF2019.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Considered to be an avant-gardist and an engaged personality, today there are around 4% women orchestra conductors in the world, Menezes was the second woman to be at the head of a professional orchestra in Brazil at a time when there were even less. She has always been engaged in numerous multidisciplinary projects and her style is considered as innovative. She has worked with composers such as: Thomas Ades,{{cite web|url=http://www.thomasades.com/compositions/living_toys|title=Thomas Adès – Living Toys|website=www.thomasades.com|access-date=2019-08-14}} Esteban Benzecry,{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmc.asso.fr/fr/actualites/agenda-musique-contemporaine/autour-compositeurs/esteban-benzecry-4|title=Esteban Benzecry|date=2019-04-09|website=Centre de documentation de la musique contemporaine|language=fr|access-date=2019-08-14}} Lera Auerbach,{{cite web|url=https://mediaresources.leraauerbach.com/index.php/collaborators/conductors/|title=Conductors – Lera Auerbach|access-date=2019-08-14|archive-date=2019-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810131910/https://mediaresources.leraauerbach.com/index.php/collaborators/conductors/|url-status=dead}} Philippe Hersant.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmc.asso.fr/fr/actualites/agenda-musique-contemporaine/concert/clarte|title=Clarté|date=2016-05-25|website=Centre de documentation de la musique contemporaine|language=fr|access-date=2019-08-14}}

In 2019, she launched a new project called "K", an orchestral ensemble formed by musicians from several countries to explore unusual repertoires and multidisciplinary projects. The ensemble is based in Lille, Belgium and Paris.The Ensemble K released in 2020 his first album Accents by the label Aparté acclaimed by the press and said by the newspaper le monde "Founded in 2019 by the Italian-Brazilian conductor Simone Menezes, Ensemble K calls itself: Klassique, Kosmopolite, Kontemporain, Kréatif, Connected”. And that's true ! " And in 2022, she created with her orchestra K lhe  a multiforme musical project "Metanoia", the project launched by the German label Accentus, includes a CD, a touring and the documentary Metanoia that brings a fresh discussion about classical music, art and photography. The documentary is signed by the Grammy winner Paul Smaczny and features Italian thinker Alberto Cavali, German painter Michael Triegel and conductor Antonio Pappano.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title=Simone Menezes: "I want to bring more audacity to the approach of classical music |url=https://www.luxurytribune.com/en/simone-menezes-i-want-to-bring-more-audacity-to-the-approach-of-classical-music |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Luxury Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Metanoia (Ensemble K) |url=https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/orchestral/metanoia-ensemble-k/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Classical Music |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=DVD/ Bluray M E T A N O I A – Simone Menezes & K {{!}} ACCENTUS Music |url=https://accentus.com/discs/dvd-m-e-t-a-n-o-i-a-simone-menezes-k/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |language=en-US}}

In 2021 Philharmonie de Paris commissioned a symphonic project around Amazon Rainforest that Simone developed in partnership with the photographer Sebastiao Salgado, a concert combining the music of Villa-Lobos and Philip Glass with the images of the photographer. The project, acclaimed by "The Guardian", made its debut at the Philharmonie de Paris and went on tour in several cities around the world, passing by the Barbican in London, the Pacco da Musica in Rome among others.{{Cite web |title=Sebastião Salgado: Amazônia in concert {{!}} Barbican |url=https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/britten-sinfoniasebastiao-salgado-amazonia-in-concert |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=www.barbican.org.uk |date=14 October 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Amazônia in concert review – bringing the sights and sounds of the Amazon to life {{!}} Classical music {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/15/amazonia-in-concert-britten-sinfonia-menezes-salgado-review |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=15 October 2021 |last1=Clements |first1=Andrew }}

In the Universal Exposition of Dubai in 2022, she also leads the concert "The beauty will save the world" with Cartier Women's Initiative as part of the Women's Pavilion at the Universal exhibition in Dubai, bringing a first female conductor, ensemble and a female choir to this country.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=S/Was There: Cartier Women's Initiative Celebrates 15th Anniversary in Dubai |url=https://smagazineofficial.com/food-drink-travel/s-was-there-cartier-womens-initiative-celebrates-15th-anniversary-in-dubai-030832292 |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=S/ magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=CARTIER - WOMEN INITIATIVE |url=https://www.superbien.studio/projects/cartier-women-initiative |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=SUPERBIEN |language=en-US}}

In 2022, the Amazonia project was released as a CD under the Alpha label, recorded with the Zürich Philharmonia. This project has been presented by prestigious ensembles, including the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, the Luxembourg Philharmonie, and the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir, among others. {{Cite web |date=2024-09-17 |title=Dort, weit unten am Fluss: Simone Menezes beim Festival "Amazônia" |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/kultur/dort-weit-unten-am-fluss-simone-menezes-beim-festival-amazonia-19990799.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}} {{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=So notwendig und so schön |url=https://www.fr.de/kultur/musik/so-notwendig-und-so-schoen-93314664.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}}

The Metanoia project won the International Classical Music Documentary Award for Best Performance/Documentary.

In 2023, Simone Menezes was honored as one of the 100 Femmes de Culture. {{Cite web |title=PHOTOS |url=https://www.femmesdeculture.com/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Femmes de Culture |language=fr}}

In 2024, she will launch the Scheherazade – A Tale {{Cite web |title=SCHEHERAZADE, A TALE |url=https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/ensemble-k-simone-menezes-400105 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.boulezsaal.de |language=en}}project {{Cite web |last=Vogt |first=Mario-Felix |date=2024-09-27 |title=Scheherazade wird zur Figur des weiblichen Widerstands |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/article407350010/scheherazade-wird-zur-figur-des-weiblichen-widerstands.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.morgenpost.de |language=de}}as a residency at the Boulez Saal in Paris. This project will include a CD released by the Alpha label and a co-production with Mezzo and Medici.tv. It features Golshifteh Farahani {{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=« Shéhérazade » à Berlin, de l'orientalisme au féminisme |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/culture/sheherazade-a-berlin-de-l-orientalisme-au-feminisme-16-10-2024-2572888_3.php#11 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}in the role of Scheherazade, with the text co-constructed by Simone Menezes, Simon Scardfield, and Lynn Sefarty. Additionally, in 2024, Simone will begin the complete recording of Ravel’s works alongside pianist François-Xavier Poizat.{{Cite web |title=Album - aparté music |url=https://apartemusic.com/en/album-details/ravel-the-complete-works-with-piano |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=apartemusic.com}}

Menezes is married since the age of 20 to the engineer Humberto Menezes and is the mother of Julia Menezes.{{cite web |last=Fernando Eichenberg |date=2019-07-08 |title=Como a brasileira Simone Menezes se tornou uma das poucas (e mais importantes) regentes de orquestra no mundo |url=https://fernandoeichenberg.wordpress.com/2019/07/08/como-a-brasileira-simone-menezes-se-tornou-uma-das-poucas-e-mais-importantes-regentes-de-orquestra-no-mundo/ |access-date=2019-08-14 |website=Fernando Eichenberg |language=pt-BR}}

• Novos Universos Sonoros with Orquestra Sinfônica da Unicamp (2009) {{cite web|url=https://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/unicamp_hoje/ju/maio2010/ju463_pag02.php|title=Jornal da Unicamp|website=www.unicamp.br|access-date=2019-08-14}}
• Suíte Contemporânea Brasileira with Camerata Latino Americana (2015) {{Citation |title=Suíte Contemporânea Brasileira |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0rba57qXYW1EYCSik9IBGu |language=en |access-date=2019-08-14}}
• Accents with Ensemble K (Aparté; 2020) {{Cite web |last=Ensemble K site |title=Ensemble K web site |url=http://www.ensemblek.com/our-cd-accents.html}}
• Metanoia - Puccini, Bach, Villa-Lobos, Pärt, Borodin. With Manon Galy, Violine; Ensemble K (Accentus; 2021) {{Cite web |last=Ensemble K |title=Ensemble K web site CD Metanoia |url=http://www.ensemblek.com/our-cd-accents.html }}
• Amazonia with Zurich Philharmonia and Camila Provenzale - Alpha Label 2023 {{Cite web |last=Outhere music |title= Amazônia. Villa-Lobos - Glass | Outhere Music|url=https://outhere-music.com/de/alben/amazonia-villa-lobos-glass}}
• Ravel - London Philharmonia and Francois Xavier Poizat - label Aparte 2024 {{Cite web |title=Album - aparté music |url=https://apartemusic.com/en/album-details/ravel-the-complete-works-with-piano |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=apartemusic.com}}
• Sheherazade, a tale - Ensemble K, Golshfiteth Farahani and Kristin Winters - Alpha label 2024 {{Cite web |last=Outhre music |title= Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, A Tale | Outhere Music|url=https://outhere-music.com/de/alben/rimsky-korsakov-scheherazade-tale}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.simonemenezes.com/}}
• [https://www.villalobosproject.com/ Villa Lobos Project website]
• https://www.ensemblek.com/

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Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Brasília

Category:Brazilian conductors (music)

Category:Brazilian women conductors (music)

Category:20th-century women musicians

Category:21st-century women musicians

Category:École Normale de Musique de Paris alumni