The first harpist to win the national award Young Musician of the Year, portuguese harp – virtuos” (Prémio Jovens Músicos) Beatriz Cortesão is capturing global audiences with her infectious energy complemented by a “stunning technique (Harp Column). Among her numerous international prizes are the 3rd prize and the Mario Falcão Prize at the 21st International Harp Contest in Israel. Most recently she was the winner of the national competition Prémio Jovens Músicos in Portugal.

As a soloist, Cortesão has appeared with the Jerusalem Symphonic Orchestra, Orquestra Gulbenkian, Real Filharmonía de Galicia and with the Orquestra Clássica do Centro. She gave the world premiere of “Hybris” for solo harp and orchestra by Alejandro Civilotti at the Noia Harp Fest (Spain, 2023), and of the “Trio” for flute, viola and harp by Clotilde Rosa with the Lisbon Ensemble 20/21 (Portugal, 2020). Beatriz was the harpist in the premiere of “Transparent(e)” for flute, viola and harp by H. Vasco Reis (Portugal, 2020).

Cortesão was a recording artist with the Ensemble D’Arcos for the albums “Tremor” (2021) and “Time Stands Still” (2020) by Nuno Côrte-Real, and is the cofounder of the harp duo AnimArpa, with Carolina Coimbra. She regularly collaborates with António Victorino D’Almeida, namely for the project “Gaudeamus – Songs Cycle for Europe”, for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra.

As a recitalist, Cortesão has appeared in solo performances in Israel, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. She won the audition for the harp position in the Accademia Teatro Alla Scala in Milan (season 2023/2024). In 2020/2021, she was the harpist of the European Union Youth Orchestra.

She is regularly invited to serve as a juror on national and international competitions boards. She is a board member of the Associação Portuguesa de Harpa and a member of the Associação À Corda. Beatriz Cortesão studied the harp from an early age with Eleonor Picas, Beatrix Schmidt, Rita Campos and Erica Versace. The HarpMasters Academy has played a vital role in the development of her skills, as well as her personal and artistic growth, since 2012. She holds the Bachelor and Master degrees in Music Performance, with highest distinction, from the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado, where she studied in the class of Dr. Irina Zingg.