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Who are the music teachers?
School Director
Erica Mulcahy
Erica Mulcahy, an accomplished music teacher with a passion for piano, who founded IMBAS in 2018 and established it as a NGO in 2022, in collaboration with benefactor Seyda San. Erica has created a welcoming community space for art and culture in Portugal and her wealth of experience has enabled her to develop the music teaching methodology in use at IMBAS. At its core is a system of learning that promotes the students' development and a positive connection to music. Through her method, students build confidence, refine focus and discover the joy of performance. Her mission is to create an educational environment for our students to express creativity and personal development, celebrate artistic expression and to create an inspiring community.
Piano
Holly Shirra de Carvalho
Holly is a dedicated piano teacher with over 15 years of experience, known for her calm, supportive style and ability to connect with students of all abilities. With a background in music therapy, she helps students build confidence and a deep connection with music. Passionate about creating her own resources, she makes lessons fun and interactive often incorporating other instruments. Holly has a special interest in teaching children with special needs, especially those on the autism spectrum, and adapts her approach to suit each child's learning style.
Piano & Vocal Coach
Rebeca de Souza
Rebeca is a pianist, singer, and passionate educator from Brazil, who spent her childhood in Africa. She holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Music Sciences. With experience training 64 music teachers in Guinea-Bissau, she is dedicated to fostering musical education. In her lessons, Rebeca connects with her students' interests to enhance their love for music, creating an engaging and inspiring learning environment.
Vocal Coach
Elisa Rodrigues
Elisa is a Portuguese international jazz singer who started performing live at the age of 8. Although she pursued other academic subjects, music has remained a source of pleasure, self-discovery, self-love, and confidence. At age 24, she recorded her first album, which became a best-seller in Portugal and earned her the title of the country's best jazz singer in 30 years. Today, she is a passionate and experienced vocal coach for students of all ages and skill levels.
Violin, Classical Singing and Piano
Miroslava Takova
Born in Bulgaria, Miroslava (Mira) graduated from the Sofia State Musical Academy having studied violin, singing, piano and chamber music. She has performed in numerous International Concerts and Orchestras, including being a part of Michael Buble's concerts in Portugal. Mira is passionate about teaching violin, classical singing and also piano to students of all ages and skill levels.
Piano & Vocal Coach
Maria Leitão
Maria Leitão is a singer-songwriter from Lisbon with a deep passion for music. She studied classical piano for eight years before graduating in Jazz Vocal Performance from the Hot Clube de Portugal Jazz School. Her love for harmony and the rich tradition of Portuguese songwriting inspired her to compose original songs, many of which are featured on her debut
album, recorded in 2024. Maria performs while accompanying herself on piano, where she feels a natural symbiosis between her voice and the instrument.
In her teaching of voice and piano, she values creativity and expression, guiding students to connect deeply with music. Her aim is to inspire them to explore their own sound with freedom and joy, and to nurture a meaningful connection with the art of song.
Piano & Vocal Coach
Inês Alves
Inês Alves is a pianist and music educator who teaches piano and singing. She holds degrees in Music and Sound Design and has been teaching since 2020. Her lessons focus on technique, musical expression, and creativity, with an adaptable approach that supports students of all ages and learning styles. In addition to teaching, she is active as a composer and sound artist.
Flute & piano
Louise Teunissen
Louise grew up surrounded by classical music and began playing the recorder at age nine before discovering the flute, which became her primary instrument. She spent five years playing the flute in both an orchestra and a wind band and took private lessons for three years with professional flutist Corrianne Hoekstra. She later studied Classical Composition at the Maastricht Conservatory, with the flute as her main instrument, where her musical and theoretical knowledge expanded significantly. In addition to the flute, she also developed strong piano skills through private lessons from ages 14 to 18 and continued playing piano during her conservatory studies. In 2015, she discovered Brazilian music—particularly chorinho—and was deeply inspired by its rich melodies and rhythms, traveling twice to Brazil to play and learn with experienced local musicians.
Art classes for Adults & Children
Angie Hickson
​Angie Hickson, an English artist with a background in fine art and textile design, moved from The Netherlands to Portugal in 2020. Inspired by the vibrant coastline, she has focused on restoring surfboards into art. With over 20 years of experience, her paintings have been exhibited and sold internationally. In 2021, she founded Portugal Art Classes, offering art workshops and events in Cascais. Since September 2024, she has been teaching at IMBAS, helping students explore creativity through various artistic mediums.
Drums
Nuno Sarafa
Nuno's passion for music and dedication to his craft shine through in every beat he plays. His wealth of experience and versatility as a musician have allowed him to collaborate with various bands in the Portuguese music scene, like X-Wife, Best Youth, We Trust or White Haus. Beyond the stage, Nuno's commitment to music education is evident in his lessons. By understanding each student's strengths and preferences, he creates a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Guitar
Adam Dilke Wing
Adam’s journey with the guitar began at 8 years old. Originally from the UK, he achieved merit awards in classical guitar before expanding his abilities to cover acoustic, electric and bass guitar. Adam has a relaxed teaching style, a natural charisma and positive attitude that make it a joy to come and learn. His customised session plans emphasise the importance of understanding core musical concepts which then can be applied to any style of playing. Whether it’s your very first lesson or you’re getting ready to take centre stage, Adam will be there to inspire your creativity and foster your love of music!
Piano & Vocal Coach
Victor Martins
Victor, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, moved to Portugal at 14, where he discovered his love for singing, joined a local choir, and formed his first band as lead vocalist. In 2011, he moved to Lisbon to study jazz at Escola de Jazz Luiz Villas-Boas, where he also became the lead singer of the Students Big Band. He later pursued a degree in Jazz and Modern Music at Lisbon Lusíada University, specializing in singing and piano. After over eight years of jazz studies, Victor transitioned into teaching non-classical vocal techniques and piano at 3 Tempos Music School. He has since taught over sixty students, preparing them for competitions, music college, and offering career consulting and recording services.
Drums
Fillipe Padrão
Fillipe Padrão is a musician from Rio de Janeiro, currently based in Cascais. He studied at the Villa-Lobos Music School in Rio and the Hot Club Jazz School in Lisbon. Over the years, he has worked as an instrumentalist and producer with several groups on the independent music scene in Rio de Janeiro.
Since relocating to Portugal in 2020, Fillipe has been developing his own musical projects, as well as collaborating with local musicians and supporting Brazilian artists on international tours.
As a teacher, Fillipe is committed to creating personalized lesson plans tailored to each student’s individual needs. His goal is to make the learning process as clear, enjoyable, and effective as possible.
Drums
João Pinheiro
João’s love for drums began at a young age, when he stumbled upon his father’s old drum kit stored in the back of the garage. What started as instinct quickly grew into a deep passion and a dedicated musical journey. Known for his powerful and expressive playing, João has become a defining presence in bands like Diabo na Cruz, Cassete Pirata, and SAL. His ability to adapt across a wide range of styles reflects both his musical versatility and commitment to the craft. As a teacher, João brings that same dedication to his students focusing on technique, musicality, and helping each drummer find their own voice.
Guitar
Tommy Duarte
Tommy has been involved with music since an early age, beginning guitar lessons at the age of eight.
He studied at the Cascais Music Conservatoire, where he had the privilege to learn from Tiago Vicente, a renowned Portuguese guitarist, as well as from his music theory teacher and maestro Rui Teixeira.
He became increasingly interested in classical singing, choral performance, musical analysis, and composition and is now completing his degree in Composition at the Higher School of Music of Lisbon.
In his teachings, he inspires students to discover their own path within this beautiful art form we call music, always fostering a positive classroom environment combined with discipline and dedication.
Drum Teacher
Tomás Borralho
Tomás Borralho, born in Portugal and raised in Tasmania, started drumming and being involved in music since an early age. From drums, to classical composition and music production, he has ben fortunate to learn from Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, António Pinho Vargas; and to work with orquestras, many music bands, and producing and composing music for cinema and advertisement. Over this time he has been a music and instrument teacher, with now 15 years of experience, helping student fall in love with music and sound.
Vocal Coach & Groups
Carolina Manfredi
Carolina is a classically-trained singer and actor. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance from McGill University in Montreal, where she also specialized in early and Baroque music performance. She has performed in operas, choirs, stage theatre, and film. Carolina teaches voice (mainly centered in classical and musical theatre styles and enjoys exploring other genres), drama, and dance/ movement. As a teacher, Carolina works to adapt to students’ needs to help them grow and reach their full potential.
Music together & groups
Christophe Sainsot
​Christophe, a French native who has lived in England, Barcelona, and Portugal, is a music teacher specializing in early childhood education. Graduating from the University of Toulouse, he has led musical workshops for children aged 0-5 for 15 years. A multilingual composer (French, English, Catalan, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese), Christophe writes and composes musical plays for children, including some for babies. He is the author of nine plays, with more in the works, and plays guitar, bass, double bass, and drums.
Join Our Team!
At IMBAS we're Always Looking for Fresh Talent and Ideas!
At our music school, we believe in keeping things dynamic and creative. We're always on the lookout for passionate music teachers who bring fresh perspectives and exciting class ideas. Come join a supportive, collaborative team where your creativity is truly valued!
Apply Today
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