Hélder Bruno Martins (Coimbra, 1976) is an ethnomusicologist and researcher at INET-md/UA; a visiting adjunct professor at the School of Education of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra (ESE-PUC); a senior consultant and expert in the cultural and creative industries.
He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Aveiro (2020), a Master’s degree in Musical Sciences (Musicology) from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra (FLUC, 2005), and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from ESE-PUC (1999).
As a researcher, he pioneered jazz studies in Portugal (MSc dissertation, FLUC, 2005), devised a decision-support methodology for defining strategies of prosperity (“ecocracy”), and developed research in the fields of music, culture and politics; music, individual and society; and music, culture and economy. He is the author of articles, conference papers, prefaces, books and book-CDs, notably Jazz in Portugal (1920-1956) (Almedina, 2006) and, more recently, “It is jazz when tears come to my eyes” – José Duarte (1938–2023) (Cordel D’Prata, 2024), published with the support of the University of Aveiro, the Centre for Jazz Studies, INET-md and the Portuguese Society of Authors.
As a consultant, he has worked for the Directorate-General for the Arts; the Camões Institute; Cherry Blossom – Art & Culture Business Consulting; CESO; the Ministry of Tourism of Guinea-Bissau; as well as for municipalities and public and private institutions, in the fields of culture, tourism, and the cultural and creative industries.
In parallel, and in a distinct and independent domain from his academic and scientific activity, he is active as a composer and pianist. He has released three albums: A Presença, serena e terna (2018); Under a Water Sky (2022), which received the Best World Music Performance award at the International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA), held in Providence (RI, USA), for the track “Island”; and Ether Sculptures (2025), which has again been nominated for the IPMA 2026 in the category of Best Instrumental Performance, with the track “In2Between”. The ceremony will take place in Providence (RI, USA) on 25 April.
Hélder Bruno Martins
etnomusicólogo, investigador
professor adjunto convidado ESEC/IPC
consultor sénior – perito em indústrias culturais e criativas
DGArtes | Cherry Blossom | Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy
Telem.: 932124379