Biography

He began his artistic studies in 1997 at the Santa Maria da Feira Music Academy, where he completed the 8th grade in classical guitar. Between 1998 and 2004, he also attended the Oporto Jazz School. He holds a degree in Music, majoring in Guitar/Performance, from the University of Aveiro, where, in 2012, he completed a Master’s in Music Education with the research theme “Introducing Guitar through Videocalls.”
Throughout his training, he attended several masterclasses and advanced courses with renowned teachers such as Alberto Ponce, Roberto Aussel, Jozef Zsapka, Dejan Ivanovic, Pedro Rodrigues, Paulo Amorim, Paula Marques, Tim Steiner, and Sam Manson (repertoire approaches).

As a teacher of specialized artistic education at the Vilar do Paraíso Music Academy, he led, between 2009 and 2013, a class whose students received awards in national and international guitar competitions.

In 2021, he completed the Intensive Management Program at Católica Porto Business School. He also holds executive training in Maximizing Your Leadership Potential (2018) from Porto Business School, Project Management (2022), and Chief Sustainability Officer (2024) from Católica Porto Business School.

Gil has been involved in cultural volunteering since the age of 13 and served as an association leader between 2007 and 2013 at the Orfeão da Feira Cultural and Recreational Center and at the Federation of Cultural and Recreational Associations of Santa Maria da Feira. During that period, he directed projects such as Oficina d’Artes, Orfeão da Feira Jazz Cycle (2007–2012), and the Terra de Santa Maria Guitar Festival (2008 and 2011 editions).

He served as a Councillor at the Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira from 2013 to 2021, responsible for Culture, Tourism, Libraries, and Museums, and from 2021 to 2025, for Culture, Education, Youth, and Tourism. In this role, he was a member of the Culture and Tourism working groups of the Eixo Atlântico, a member of the Council of Councillors for Culture, Education, Youth, and Tourism at the Porto Metropolitan Area, and represented the Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira on the Board of Founders of the Serralves Foundation.

He also served as a Board Member of the Terras de Santa Maria da Feira Foundation, Chair of the General Assembly of the municipal company Feira Viva – Culture and Sport, Chair of the General Assembly and Board of Directors of the Santa Maria da Feira Tourism Company, and President of the Association of the Youth Orchestra and Symphonic Band of Santa Maria da Feira. He was part of the Executive Committee of Viagem Medieval em Terra de Santa Maria until December 2022 and served as Executive Director of Imaginarius – International Street Theatre Festival between 2014 and 2025.

In 2016, he was recognized as Event Personality of the Year at the 9th Events Gala in Lisbon.