Why I Chose Backun
For me, Backun is about trust. When I play, I want to feel that the instrument is completely with me, that I can focus on the music, the phrase, the colour and the emotion without having to fight against the instrument itself. What I found in Backun was an immediate sense of response and possibility. The clarinet gives me the flexibility to explore different colours and characters while maintaining a strong core to the sound and a remarkable sense of control. I also admire the philosophy behind the brand: the combination of craftsmanship, innovation and a clear respect for the individuality of each musician. That is what made Backun feel right for me, not only as an instrument, but as part of the artistic voice I want to continue developing.
About
Ana Rita Costa is a Portuguese clarinetist whose artistic work encompasses solo performance, chamber music, wind orchestra and the symphonic repertoire. She graduated in Clarinet Performance from the School of Music and Performing Arts of Porto (ESMAE), where she studied with António Saiote and Nuno Pinto, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Minho, specializing in Clarinet and Chamber Music under the guidance of Vítor Matos and Xocas Meijide. Since 2024, she has also studied orchestral conducting with Jan Wierzba.
Throughout her artistic development, she has worked with distinguished clarinetists including António Saiote, Carlos Ferreira, Florent Héau, Gabor Varga, Igor Frantisák, Joan Enric Lluna, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Nuno Pinto, Pascal Moraguès, Victor Pereira and Vítor Fernandes. She has also received chamber music guidance from the Art’Ventus Wind Quintet, Olga Prats and Miguel Borges Coelho.
Ana Rita has performed with numerous symphonic and wind ensembles and worked under conductors such as Douglas Bostock, Ivan Meylemans, José Eduardo Gomes, José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana, Jan Wierzba, Paulo Martins and Pedro Carneiro. Her distinctions include Honourable Mentions at the Terras de La Salette International Wind Instrument Competition and the National Young Clarinetists Competition of the Portuguese Clarinet Association (APC).
In 2023, she was invited to tutor the clarinet section at the Música nas Férias academy in the Azores. In 2026, the Portuguese Clarinet Association invited her to serve as a jury member for the regional round of the APC Clarinet Competition.
Ana Rita Costa performs on Backun clarinets and pursues an artistic identity defined by expressive depth, tonal refinement and interpretative versatility.
