This philharmonic band was founded in 1834 and is now one of the best in the country. Its high artistic level has been achieved under the baton of maestro Carlos Marques.

It is considered part of the city's artistic heritage, not only because of its performances which enthral the citizens of Aveiro, but also due to its international activities.

It is a permanently active non-profit association and one of the oldest music associations in the country. Its work to promote music culture was rewarded with Aveiro city's Silver and Gold Medals in 1961 and 1984 respectively. One of the city's main squares contains a monument in its honour, and one of its streets is named after it.

It currently includes the following groups: the philharmonic band, the light orchestra, the youth orchestra, the choir and the music school, with about 120 members.

It has been awarded honorary diplomas by the city's two fire brigades, the Sport Clube Beira-Mar, the Recreio Artístico Society, and the Clube de los Galitos, among others.

It has taken part in several national and international events, of which the following are particularly worth mentioning:

It has also attended several contests in Spain, in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2001. It currently holds invitations to perform in many parts of the country.

CARLOS MARQUES

He was born in 1973. He studied Trumpet at Aveiro Conservatory of Music. Having studied Composition, Music Theory, History of Music and Acoustics in the army, he joined the Army Light Orchestra, where he wrote music and played the trumpet for eight years. He also acquired some piano and jazz harmony knowledge with various teachers, and learned some conducting with Robert Houlihan, Vasco Pierce de Azevedo and Antonio Vassalo Lourenço. He conducts the Amizade Band and the Amizade Big Band, and is the artistic director and co-founder of the "Verão Amizade" summer course for wind instrument players.

He has written over 60 works, including compositions and arrangements, most of which have been recorded by some of the best bands in the country. He has collaborated in works for various chamber music groups, and taken part as an orchestrator in the 36th Eurovision Festival. His works have been published by Molenaar, one of the best band music publishers in the world, since 2004. He currently teaches Music Studies at Jobra Conservatory of Music. He also conducts Jobra orchestra, and is about to complete his Theory and Music Studies course at Aveiro University.