Orlando Haddad and Patricia King—known together as Minas—will set the rhythm and rock the house during the cocktail reception of AL DÍA’s “I am an American Immigrant” awards ceremony.  

Their repertoire mixes original songs with renowned Brazilian compositions, such as “Garota de Ipanema,” “Mais que Nada,” and “Águas de Março,” among others. Minas can transition between many different rhythms, from samba to bossa nova to choro, jazz and blues, bringing a refreshing interpretation of the best Brazilian and American music.

Minas started in 1978 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where Haddad and King met while studying music. This encounter resulted in the mix of Brazilian and American musicalities that has become the duo’s signature.

Grupo Minas will be performing during the cocktail hour of the “I am an American Immigrant” awards ceremony on June 14 at the National Museum of American Jewish History. The ceremony is the culmination of a six-month editorial campaign showcasing the contributions that immigrants make in the Philadelphia area and beyond. The project was launched in December 2017 when AL DÍA opened the call for nominations of Latino immigrants who make a positive impact in their community. From all the nominations received, 12 finalists were chosen by the selection committee and every week afterward, the story of a candidate was presented in our publication.

On May 7, the selection committee met once again, this time to select four awardees from the 12 finalists featured during the campaign. During the award ceremony, these winners will represent the strength, the unity and the resilience of the immigrant community in the U.S.