The reason that led Catarina Amaral to leave for the United States almost ten years ago, to study Music, is practically the same that made her create, in October 2021, the Opus One artist association.

In Macau, where she was born, she missed an artistic community. And musical education still had a long way to go.

"It is much better than before, because people who studied abroad have returned to Macau and there are more students playing much better technically", the 24-year-old from Macau says in an interview with Lusa.

However, the pianist notes, with the "culture of competition that remains among the students" of the territory, who "feel a lot of pressure", the quality of local music ends up being "greatly affected".

At the level of the higher education curriculum, she believes, there is a lack of interesting programs, even "because music is not just playing": "You have much more than just that: arts, you have history, theory, everything is related and Macau is not yet putting these points together. It is still missing, but it is starting".

Opus One, formed by Catarina and two friends, also pianists from Macau, Peter Chan and Shuyan Wong, wants to bring some balance to those who are taking their first steps in this world, for example, through "more education via concerts, 'masterclasses' and other events", free or at a reduced cost.

"Instead of everything being competition, instead of having to pay for classes, we really want students to start appreciating the music that they themselves listen to, that they themselves see, that they are not just sent to practice, sent to like music", she explains.

A recital with Russian-American Olga Kern, the only woman to achieve gold in the Van Cliburn international piano competition in the last 50 years, or with Canadian pianist Avan Yu, who also gave a 'masterclass' to four children from Macau, were some of the activities organized so far by Opus One.

All with money from their own pockets, since the association was unable to raise funds to support the initiatives.

"These events, which start out for free or at a low price, or the opportunity [that children have] to meet these artists and play for these artists, can influence young people to like music even more. It can even bring a healthier environment to Macau", she stresses.

Catarina Amaral completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music at the Manhattan School of Music, in New York, and is now attending a second master's degree, in Education, at Columbia University. She says that, for the future, what she "really wanted was to teach teachers how to be teachers".

"It is not just telling students what to do, but telling students to explore what they want to do", she stresses.

For now, this Macanese, of Portuguese and Chinese origin, will remain in the United States to do a doctorate. The return to Macau is in the plans, she says, because she feels she wants to give something back to the community.

As for the association, initially dedicated more to music and piano, the idea is to contact other instruments and arts. Painting and fashion are some of the areas of interest and with "undiscovered talents".

"Macau has a lot of talent, it has many people with a lot of talent who are not spoken about, who are not made known to the public. That is why they are also communities that we want to include", she says.

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