Desiree M Fernandes

Desiree Fernandes is a recent graduate of Northeastern University with a major in Theatre concentrating in Performance and a double minor in Linguistics and Psychology. She was a member of the Iota Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as various other organizations and honor societies on campus. Aside from being a full time student, Desiree worked as a costume designer in the Boston area and was a teaching artist for the Page to Stage program at Central Square Theater.

She became a singer at a very young age, with her love of her Cape Verdean culture and its traditional music. She has participated and has been featured in various performances and fundraisers.  In addition to being featured in various Cape Verdean magazines, newspapers, and television shows, Desiree was interviewed by Kids Talk Radio for a segment on keeping Jazz alive in schools across the USA and by NPR. In 2009 Desiree was featured on the album Kriolo by the Cape Verdean songwriter and composer Antero Simas, interpreting his well-known composition Doce Guerra.  Both the song and the CD became a success, generating a buzz about this young artist not only in Cape Verde but globally.

After many years of research and hard work, Desiree is in the process of recording her highly anticipated solo album.  For her project, she has teamed up with Grammy award-winning music icon Robert Sadin who has recorded with many including music sensation STING.  This project also brings collaborations with the former head of Universal Music Chris Roberts, guitar virtuosos Kim Alves and Romero Lubambo, and pianist/ composer Carlos Matos, to name a few.  The album will feature, not only compositions by Desiree, but also some of Cape Verdes most respected composers.  They have composed for Cesaria Evora during the expanse of her successful career. 

Aside from working on her CD, Desiree has spent the last few years working on the creation of a non-profit organization with strong educational outreach. Desirees mission in life is to foster a love of cultural preservation and to inspire an awareness of the interconnectedness of humanity among youth.  Desiree is one to look for, having been called the future of Cape Verdean music by many of Cape Verdes well-known artists, composers, and songwriters.