ISMT student takes part in historic moment at the Queima das Fitas Monumental Serenata

2026-05-22

Tânia Fonseca, a Master's student in Psychology at ISMT, was part of the first group with female voices to perform at the Coimbra Monumental Serenata.

In the early hours of this Friday, a historic event took place at the Queima das Fitas Monumental Serenata in Coimbra. For the first time, female voices were included in the musical repertoire of the ceremony, which gathered thousands of students at the Largo da Sé Velha to mark the beginning of the city's academic celebrations.

Among the voices driving this shift in Coimbra's musical tradition is Tânia Fonseca, a second-year Master's student in Psychology at the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT). The student is a member of the group Honoris Causa, which belongs to the Fado Section of the Coimbra Academic Association. The group's preparation involved weekly rehearsals focusing on themes designed to convey emotion to the audience, building on the repertoire they had practiced since their initial auditions.

The student's participation in this opening event of Queima das Fitas highlights the active involvement of ISMT students in the structures and traditions of Coimbra's academia. According to previous statements by Tânia Fonseca, integration into cultural and artistic sections is accessible to all students, regardless of gender or the higher education institution they attend in the city, helping to break down barriers and encourage participation in local activities.

This year's edition of the Monumental Serenata featured specific organizational guidelines, including a capacity limit of 4,000 people at the Largo da Sé Velha venue and an enhanced security deployment.

Photo: Diário As Beiras - Ana Ferreira