Instrumentos Valente

After training his hands carving didgeridoos during adolescence, Diogo Valente entered university to study dental prosthetics, where, in addition to manual dexterity, he also trained his patience. He was certain of one thing: he was born to shape. But he was far from imagining that his purpose and brilliance would be in wood and music, rather than the human mouth.

It was while working in a string instrument factory that he felt the click, making an accordion from discarded wood. Then, he found master guitarist José Gonçalves (the renowned “The Luthier of Cónega”) to guide him. With him, he learned through observation, conversation, and curiosity. By listening to the master and practicing incessantly, Diogo quickly became a young prodigy in the art of building string instruments.

In 2023, he was named an Honorary Member by the Cavaquinho Museum, in recognition of his role in the continuity of the luthier tradition in Portugal. Currently, his workshop in Aveiro produces instruments where time is the most precious material.