Biography
Portuguese conductor Rui Miguel Marques currently holds the position of Assistant Conductor of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, since January 2025, where he works closely with their Chief Conductor, Andris Poga, and various guest conductors.
This year marks the young conductor’s debut with several orchestras such as the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra and Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra. During this season, Rui will also collaborate with Portuguese pianist Bernardo Santos in an international tour featuring João Domingos Bomtempo’s Piano Concerti, celebrating the Portuguese composer’s 250th birthday in four countries, and concluding with a recording project of his music in Portugal.
Since February 2024, Rui has also been part of Dirigentforum Junior - Talent Norge’s and Dirigentløftet’s Program for young conductors. By being part of Dirigentforum Jr, Rui has participated in masterclasses with Johannes Schlaefli, Axel Kober, Wolfram Christ, Stefan Dohr, Eivind Aadland and Alf Årdal. During these sessions, Marques had the possibility to colaborate with soloists such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Amalie Stalheim and Miriam Helms Ålien.
Rui has worked with various orchestras worldwide such as: Gulbenkian Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Kecskemet Symphony Orchestra, West Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Dresden, Alumni Symphony Orchestra Zürich, Atlantic Coast Orchestra, Orquestra Clássica do Centro and Alto Minho Youth Orchestra. Recent highlights include a sold-out performance of Verdi’s opera Nabucco in J.K. Tyla Theatre in Czech Republic and an invitation as Guest Conductor for a piano festival in Teatro Degollado (México).
In the last few years, Rui has also participated in masterclasses with Jorma Panula, Johannes Schlaefli, Nicólas Pasquet, Neil Thomson, Lawrence Foster, Gustavo Gimeno, Howard Williams, Edward Gardner, Colin Metters, Tabita Berglund, Dinis Sousa and Nuno Coelho.
The 20-year-old conductor is based in Oslo and studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo) under the guidance of Professor Ole Kristian Ruud. Before his degree, Rui studied for four years with British Conductor Timothy Henty and previously with Portuguese Conductors Alexandre Madeira and Marta Falcão.