Founded by musician, master mandolin player, arranger and composer Aleh Ferreira, the Trio Quintessência performs Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), Choro, Samba, Bossa Nova, Jazz and International Classical and Pop Music, in a new lively and exciting arrangement.

Comprised of three virtuosos and soloists, the mandolin player Aleh Ferreira, the cellist Júlio Cerezo Ortiz and the guitarist Alessandro Penezzi, the trio is considered by Brazilian music critics as one of the best musical groups of Brazil. The trio will be releasing their first CD this year.

Of nearly 400 registrants throughout Brazil, the group was one of the semifinalists for 2001 Fourth VISA Eldorado Award of Brazilian Popular Music - Instrumental.
In July of this year, the Trio Quintessência will make its first US tour, participating at The 25th

Anniversary Celebration Concert Series, Waterplace Park, and at the Providence International Mandolin Festival in Providence, Rhode Island. They also performed in 2001 at the Chikovsk Room in Moscow, Russia and several concerts with the the Jazz Symphonic Orchestra of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

THE MUSICIANS
Aleh Ferreira, musician, master mandolin player and composer, has three choro-style CDs released. Born in São Paulo on October 27, 1966, he began performing in shows with Caçulinha, Altamiro Carrilho and Regional de Evandro by the age of 13. He participated in shows as a special guest together with the Demônios da Garôa, Nelson Cavaquinho, Moreira da Silva, Isaurinha Garcia, Clementina de Jesus, Zé Keti, Ciro Aguiar, Germano Matias, Carlos Poyares, Ataulfo Alves Jr., Emilinha Borba and many others.

Awards:
First place in the First Brazilian Festival of Chorões, in Araraquara, in 1982;
First place (Public Jury) and first place (Official Jury) in the First "Tico-Tico no Fubá" Choro Festival in 1994 with one of his own works "Tristezas de um Violoncelo" ("Sadness of a Cello").
First place (Public Jury) and first place (Official Jury) in the First Diadema Choro Festival, with a work written by him called "Ternura," in 1995.

As a composer, he had the privilege of composing the first and only known Brazilian Suites for a Cello Solo, which have already been recorded by the cellist Júlio Cerezo Ortiz. He also composed a Concert for Oboe, a Concert for Flute, and other musical works.

A musician with an international career, in the year 2000, as part of the Angolan Independence celebration, Aleh performed Brazilian Popular Music with Alessandro Penezzi in Johannesburg and Luanda under the sponsorship of the Brazilian Embassy.

Júlio Cerezo Ortiz, born in São Paulo, did his undergraduate studies in cello. He received his musical training from great instructors such as Gretchen Miller, Calixto Coraza and, for 10 years, Antonio Del Claro.

He is the first cello of the Orchestra of the University of São Paulo and first cello of the Jazz Symphonic Orchestra of the State of São Paulo.

A musician with an international career, he has performed in several countries such as United States, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand. He has also spread Brazilian music in important Festivals, such as the 5th Zuid Amerikaans Kamermuziek (5th South American Chamber Music) in Belgium.

He has one CD released, "Suites Brasileiras para Violoncelo Solo", on which he had the privilege of performing the first and only known Brazilian Suites for a Cello Solo by the composer Aleh Ferreira

Alessandro Penezzi, guitarist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, was born in Piracicaba in São Paulo. He began his music studies at the age of 7, learning several instruments such as erudit guitar, classical guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin, and transversal flute.

Performing professionally since the age of 13, Penezzi accompanied renowned artists such as the flutist Carlos Poyares, the samba group Noite Ilustrada, Silvio Caldas, Sandy and Júnior, among others.

Penezzi studied classical guitar at the Conservatório Dramático e Musical de Tatuí, São Paulo, and received a degree in classical guitar in 1997 at Escola de Música de Piracicaba. He now teaches at the Liceu Albert Einstein Music School in São Paulo.

At this time he is pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in Popular Music at UNICAMP, São Paulo, under the guidance of renowned guitarist Ulisses Rocha.

His first CD as a soloist will be released later this year. He is featured as a guitarist in several CDs participating also as a producer, arranger and conductor.

As a composer, he has written lovely choro-style pieces, waltzes and sambas.

In the year 2000, Alessandro and Aleh performed Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) in Johannesburg and Luanda under the sponsorship of the Brazilian Embassy, celebrating the Angolan