José Lemos, a recent graduate of the College of Charleston and a member of the Charleston Pro Musica, won First Prize and the Audience Prize in the 2003 Chimay International Baroque Singing Competition that took place October 23-26 in Belgium.
The competition jury was chaired by William Christie, Founder and Director of Les Arts Florissant. Thirty four contestants from seventeen countries were selected by tape for the semi-final round at the Chateau de Chimay. Six contestants made the finals, and three prizes were awarded. Prince Philippe de Chimay of Belgium handed Mr. Lemos the award, which includes European performances and $4,000.

The Brussels newspaper Le Soir on October 28 called Mr. Lemos' performance “The coronation of a virtuosic presence.” The review says “José Lemos seduced us thanks to the dramatic conviction of his interpretation and the astonishing virtuosity of his singing.”

A countertenor, Mr. Lemos hails from Uruguay, received an undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston, and a graduate degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston. He has performed throughout South and North America and tours France yearly as soloist of the Charleston Pro Musica, the early music ensemble in residence at the College of Charleston.  As winner of the 1997 South American Belvedere Hans Gabor which took place at the Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires, he represented the continent in Vienna.  This summer he was a fellow at the Tanglewood Festival.

In December 2003 he will tour the United States with the Baltimore Consort and will appear in Osvaldo Golijov’s opera “Ainadamar” at the new Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Next May he will participate in a new music festival the College of Charleston will present in Spain and the following month in a festival in Belgium. He will perform with Ensemble Brio on January 19, 2004, in Columbia; April 4, 2004, in Greenville; and April 5, 2004, in Charleston.