António Saiote was yesterday, 26th February, granted by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the degree of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique.
"It is a great honour and a great responsibility," he said at the end of the ceremony to the Office of Communication and Image of the P.PORTO, showing himself proud and flattered with the distinction awarded by the highest figure of the State.
António Saiote was thus recognized with the Order of Infante D. Henrique, which distinguishes individuals who have rendered relevant services to the country, in Portugal or abroad, "in the expansion of Portuguese culture or for the knowledge of Portugal, its History and its values.
With a career spanning over 50 years, 30 as a soloist, António Saiote helped write the history of the clarinet in Portugal. The lecturer at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo (ESMAE) has premiered dozens of works in Portugal, performed in over 30 countries, been a jury in prestigious competitions, trained countless clarinettists, almost all of them with remarkable careers. In 2014, the International Clarinet Association (ICA) awarded him the Career Award for all the work he has done for the clarinet, especially as a mentor and performer. The same ICA, in 2021, made António Saiote its honorary member. "Being a member is like receiving the Pritzker" of the clarinet, he alluded at the time.
