The Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is pleased to announce the start of its Summer Program in Portuguese Cultural Series with a concert by Lena Timas on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 8 PM. The concert will be held in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Recital Hall (parking lot 9).

Born in Santo Antão and raised in São Vicente, Lena Timas is yet another example of the global popularity of Cape Verdean music. With the launch of her breakthrough CD "Magia D'Morna" in 2005, produced by Zemanu Productions (Zé Timas and Manu Kat), the Cape Verdean community has come to know the enormous talent of a singer who today is a rising star on the Cape Verdean music scene.

At the age of seventeen, Lena started working as a teacher on the island of Sal, where she had the privilege to live in close contact with live Cape Verdean music, but it was only in 1982 when she moved to the US that the doors of the music world opened for her. Now married to the famous guitar player and music producer Zé Timas, Lena started out accompanying her husband to musical events, and little by little began to attract more attention from the public through her ever-increasing participation in musical performances.

The launch of her CD only strengthened her base of popularity, garnering widespread praise from the public, positive reviews in US and Canadian newspapers, and even the attention of the all-important French market. The music company "Playa Sound" expressed an interest in Lena, and became involved in the distribution of her CD in 17 countries throughout the world, including Japan.

Not only a singer, but also a writer of lyrics on her CD, she sings two of her own songs: "Magia d'morna" and "Nem Sempre."

With all of Lena's talents and accomplishments, it is clear we stand before a great performer. Due to her excellent capacity to communicate and interact with the public, she can captivate any audience.

Lena is accompanied by the group VOZ E CORDA (Ze Timas, Amadeus, Roy, Tchico Evora, Antero, Marcelo), along with special guest singer and piano player Benvindo Cruz.

For more information on this and other activities, please contact the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture by telephone (508 999 8255) or email (j1fernandes@umassd.edu). More information can also be found at www.portstudies.umassd.edu.

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