Circulo da Voz

Círculo da Voz is a laboratory of improvisation and vocal creativity that was founded in 2017 by singer Manuel Linhares.

These sessions aim to understand the voice as a possibility of artistic and individual expression, but also as a manifestation and construction of a common space, through circlesinging and other group singing and improvisation exercises. Contemporary techniques for working the voice in groups are studied in depth, other than the traditional choral forms, relying wholly on improvisation to create compositions and foster the musicality of its participants.
What the Voice Circle proposes is the search for a form of spontaneous vocal expression which promotes musical development, improvisation and creativity.

These sessions are aimed at singers, actors, dancers, performers and other professionals who wish to explore the artistic capacities of their voice and body. These sessions can also be open to anyone who likes to sing and explore their artistic creativity, without necessarily having previous musical studies or experience.

The aim of the Voice Circle is to bring singing and improvisation to an increasing number of people, developing an artistic community of singers and improvisers. Singing has a strong therapeutic component, stimulating the body and the mind and helping to release the natural tensions of daily life, which naturally brings a better well-being and quality of life to its participants.

Manuel Linhares is a Jazz singer based in Porto who has dedicated himself to performance, composition, improvisation and also teaching. He has performed on stages all over Europe, United States or Brazil and has studied with great references of music and improvisation such as Theo Bleckmann, Judy Niemack, Gretchen Parlato and also the great Bobby Mcferrin and the extraordinary Meredith Monk. Manuel Linhares has a vast experience as a facilitator of workshops and musical retreats. We can highlight his role as assistant in the workshop of the artist Meredith Monk in December 2018 in New York. In 2019 he creates together with singer Sofia Ribeiro and beatboxer Rizumik a biannual improvisation retreat in Portugal with the name "Vocal Being Retreat". And in August 2019 he is invited to be an assistant teacher at singer Bobby McFerrin's "Circlesongs" workshop in New York.