On its 10th edition, Madalena do Pico, Azores, once again presents the CORDAS World Music Festival, from October 1–11 across multiple venues.
The festival reaffirms Pico’s growing reputation as a creative hub in the Atlantic, drawing artists from Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
Organized by MiratecArts, CORDAS continues its mission of uniting artists and audiences from around the world through the universal language of string instruments.
Since its creation, CORDAS has transformed the island into an open stage, offering concerts, workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and community activities in unique settings.
The 2025 edition will highlight the festival’s role as a meeting point between tradition and innovation, featuring performances by artists from Portugal and abroad, while also promoting Azorean instruments such as the viola da terra.
This year’s program introduces several special themes, including the celebration of 100 years of Carlos Paredes, with a tribute concert by Luísa Amaro, and the debut of Madeira’s traditional instruments in collaboration with regional cultural institutions.
The festival also marks Viola da Terra Day, showcases new album releases by Azorean musicians, and expands its educational outreach with the “Cordas nas Escolas” and “Cordas para Bebés” initiatives, nurturing the next generation of music lovers.
“Ten years of CORDAS show what can happen when an island embraces the arts,” said Terry Costa, founder and artistic director of MiratecArts. “From the first guitar notes to the sound of local violas echoing across the mountains, CORDAS continues to connect people, cultures, and generations.”
All performances are free of admission, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore the island’s cultural heartbeat through music.
MiratecArts is a multidisciplinary cultural association based on Pico Island, Azores, founded in 2012 by Terry Costa with the mission to promote artistic creation, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. It organizes some of the Azores’ most dynamic festivals, including the Cordas World Music Festival, Azores Fringe Festival, Montanha Pico Festival, and AnimaPIX, and initiatives in music, film, literature, and public art that connect local and international communities. positioned Pico Island as a creative hub in the mid-Atlantic, fostering dialogue between tradition, innovation, and the natural landscape.
For more information, full program updates, and travel details, visit www.mirateca.com/cordas and follow on Facebbok
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
