Nélio de Freitas Silva

Abstract:
[Câmara de Lobos, Madeira * 28/08/1971]

Biography:
Son of Tito Abílio da Silva and Lúcia Gomes de Freitas Silva, natives of Câmara de Lobos, Nélio de Freitas Silva was born on August 28, 1971, in Câmara de Lobos.
Descendant of a family of musicians, initiated by his grandfather, José da Silva and pursued by his father, Tito Abílio da Silva, his brother Tito Celso de Freitas Silva, his nephew José Ricardo Paulos Silva, and other relatives, he had a very early taste for music, having joined in 1983 in the music school of Banda Recreio Camponês, in clarinet.
He joined the Army in 1989 as a volunteer and member of the Military Band of the Military Zone of Madeira. Between 1990 and 1992 he competed and attended the Training Course of Sergeants Musicians, having during that period integrated the Army Symphonic Band.
He returned that last year to the Military Band of the Military Zone of Madeira, joining the cadres of that regimental band. He concluded in 2003 the Promotion Course to Assistant Sergeant and in 2017 the Promotion Course to Chief Sergeant. On 1 January of that last year he had been appointed Deputy Chief of the Military Band of the Military Zone of Madeira. Years earlier, in 1998, Nélio Silva had been nominated for the same function – Deputy Chief – of the Banda Recreio Camponês, as well as for music teacher at this institution. He has embraced the artistic direction of that community since 2000, replacing Sergeant João Figueira Quintal, and has since performed that function and made possible the formation of youth groups in the direction of the band of his performers, namely Heliodoro Ferreira.
In 2007, at the invitation of the Association of Philharmonic Bands of Madeira, he took the direction of two concerts of the Wind Orchestra of that institution.