Técnico student awarded national illusionism prize
André Melão, a Telecommunications and Computer Engineering student, wins the 1st Stage Prize at the “Bairrada Mágica” International Magic Festival.
André Melão, a Telecommunications and Computer Engineering student at Instituto Superior Técnico, won the 1st Stage Prize at the “Bairrada Mágica” International Magic Festival, held on April 14th. The event, which was part of the 10th Portuguese Congress of Illusionism, took place in Oliveira do Bairro and included the participation of several national illusionists.
His participation in the festival followed the work he has been doing on various national stages. “I decided to sign up and present my stage routine (Im)possible Love, which I’ve been preparing for several years,” says André Melão. The most remarkable moment, he admits, was the victory: “It was a huge surprise and, at the same time, a validation of the effort and dedication I have invested in this art”.
André Melão’s career in illusionism began at an early age. “The first contact I had with illusionism was when I was 7 years old, when I received a magic box for Christmas,” he recalls. However, it was three years later that his interest became more serious: “I saw a performance on YouTube that fascinated me. From then on I started wanting to learn more and more about this area and curiosity got the better of me. Since then I’ve never stopped,” explains André Melão.
In addition to illusionism, he has focused on his academic training in Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science, with a special interest in cybersecurity. For André Melão, these two areas have more in common than first appears. “Cybersecurity also deals with mysteries, strategies and revelations,” he says, adding that both magic and engineering require logical thinking, attention to detail, creativity and problem-solving skills. “The way I think about and structure a magical effect has many points in common with the way I approach technical challenges,” he notes.
Asked about the future, he sees technology and magic as two paths that can coexist. “I want to stay connected to technology and cybersecurity, but magic will always be there – either as a profession or as a form of expression,” he says.