Considered one of the most innovative violists of his generation, José Valente continues to develop an intense musical activity defined by the irreverence, contemporaneity and virtuosity of his playing and composing. Praised by audiences and critics, his musical path has been proving a vision that transcends the simple definition of originality. José Valente's viola is the instrument that summons and transports the listener to the musician's world, made of diversity and velvet sounds that reach the sensorial confines of the audience. His work is also an accumulation of accolades and distinctions that include the Carlos Paredes Prize 2019, the title “The Hannah S. and Samuel A. Cohn Memorial Foundation Endowed Fellowship”. He was a new Fnac talent in 2014, and received an Honorable Mention in the 2009 edition of the Lopes- Graça Composition competition. The violist is also the composer and musical director of SIBILA BILINGUE, a project that brings together an orchestra with several musician emigrants from Porto. Sibila Bilingue has received the ICOM and APOM awards in 2023. With a PhD in Contemporary Art from the University of Coimbra, José Valente has published 5 albuns: “Os Pássaros estão estragados” (2015 - SOLO); “Serpente Infinita” (2018 - SOLO), “Trégua” (2021 - for viola and marching band); "Águas paradas não movem moinhos" (2022 - an homage to José Mário Branco by a viola sextet) and "Quem é o José Valente" (2024 - SOLO). ​