Portuguese Music Industry

Domingos Caeiro has always been interested in the mechanics of brass and woodwind instruments. He received training in Paris and moved to Portugal in the hopes of establishing his career. When he found it difficult to find work in other shops, he decided to open up his own. Slowly his workshop evolved into a musical instrument store with an instrument repair workshop in the back. In addition to his store and repair shop, Domingos started an apprenticeship program to teach the craft to others. Over his 30-plus years in business, Domingos has taught many technicians and continues to

Paulo Caius played music as a child and enjoyed each chance he had to work with fellow musicians. When the chance came to open his own music store, Paulo jumped at it. Caius Music, located in Portugal, opened in 1980 and launched Paulo into the music industry. However, as he later discovered, he preferred music distribution. He decided to close the store and focused on wholesale-distribution. Those efforts led to his position as President with Roland’s new operation in Portugal.  

Paulo Nogueira is the co-owner of Americo Nogueira LDA along with his brother José. Their store in Portugal originally opened in 1860 and in 1947 their father began working at the store. In 1965 he purchased the store and renamed it, after himself, and began focusing on selling the popular musical instruments of the day, including home organs and guitars. Paulo grew up in the family business and found he had a real passion for the music industry and its people. He and his brother take pride in carrying on the family tradition of running a friendly neighborhood music store that enc

José Nogueira was eight years old when his parents started a music business in Porto, Portugal. He took accordion lessons as a child as well as guitar and piano. In 1974, a group of friends formed a rock band combining elements of R&B and jazz, but they already had a piano player so one of José’s band-mates asked if he would play the saxophone instead. José took to the soprano saxophone and quickly discovered it was the perfect missing element of the band. The band, Jafumega, toured and recorded together until 2008 and is known as one of the founders of Portuguese Rock! He als

Agostinho Rodrigues, affectionately known as Tico, combined his lifelong passion for guitars with his background in mechanical engineering to create a meaningful career centered around music, craftsmanship, and community. Raised in Porto, Portugal, Tico developed a deep appreciation for stringed instruments after receiving his first guitar from an uncle while still a baby. His fascination with the instrument eventually led him to study guitar making under a respected local violin luthier, further strengthening his connection to Portugal’s rich musical traditions.

Luis Ruvina grew up in the music industry! His family established the Daniel Ruvina Music Company back in 1917. Over the years Luis continued in the tradition of the company and the industry by working hard to build the industry and creating ways to make more people active music makers. Luis has been a strong leader in many national and international programs that contribute to the arts, including several created by NAMM. In July 2005, Luis and José Castro established Papélia Música, a smaller company able to adjust to today’s market challenges while keeping the true music spirit

José Vinhas is the founder of Música.com, a retail store in the heart of Coimbra, Portugal. Coimbra is the third largest city in Portugal and most known for its university for which the store is located nearby. José began working for the music store Teclado where he not only learned the business but realized he had a true passion for the music industry. When he opened his store Adagio, he created a special environment perfectly fitting musicians of all levels and interests. The third store, Música.com, began as a store front but added the ".com" to the name when he began also sell