Margarita Portela

I have had the privilege of working with Margarita Portela throughout much of my artistic career, and her support has been instrumental at many important stages along the way. Her extensive experience in the music industry, including her work with Warner Music, combined with her background as an artist manager and event promoter, has given her an exceptional strategic vision for artist development and music marketing.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing and working with Margarita for over 20 years. Beyond her incredible talent as a music producer, she is deeply people-friendly and genuinely cares about the immediate needs of every musician, whether on stage or in the recording studio. Margarita is exceptionally organized, meticulously detailed, and holds the absolute highest standards to ensure every event and production is executed flawlessly from start to finish.

I’ve known Margarita Portela for over forty years. I respect her knowledge of music in general and the kindness and the relationship she maintained over the years, with many different genres of musicians. She’s very enthusiastic and helpful, from big stars of music, and even with beginners in the business. I highly recommend her as a producer, for her energy and public relationships.

I’ve known Margarita Portela for over 20 years, and I can say she is one of the most kind and caring people I have known in and out of the music industry.

We met in the early 2000’s on the Toronto music scene attending to a monthly Latin Jazz Jam “DESCARGA” produced by Margarita and hosted by the later founders of the iconic “LULA LOUNGE”. Lula Lounge club in Toronto, venue that she also managed and help consolidate as a community staple in the city, creating a place for our culture and our musicians to flourish.

Her support to the artists and the scene working with “OPEN CITY” and “LULA LOUNGE” was and still is invaluable.

Her respect and commitment to the music and the community are an example of how much she cares.

Her knowledge and expertise make every working experience a valuable one.

Margarita Portela is one of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate, and caring professionals in the music industry I have ever known. She combines exceptional business acumen with a deep musical knowledge and an unwavering commitment to artists. Her generosity of spirit, integrity, and trust in others truly set her apart. She inspires me by continually striving for excellence while uplifting others. It is both a privilege and an honor to know her and to share our musical journeys.

Sometime ago, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Margarita. I felt very comfortable and felt safe. She was very professional and kindly taking care of any details with me and my musicians. Any artist in collaboration with Margarita Portela, should feel lucky. Margarita loves arts and music. She will do her best to support her artists and connect arts with society.

I have known Margarita Portela for over 20 years, and throughout that time, she has consistently proven herself to be a very professional, knowledgeable, and resourceful event producer.

Music has connected us since the very beginning, and I have personally attended many high-quality concerts that she has produced.

Beyond our collaborations on various concerts and events over the years, Margarita has shown incredible range in her career, including as a television producer. She brought a wealth of international expertise to South Florida, having honed her skills as a producer in her native Cuba, in Canada, and beyond.

Furthermore, Margarita is deeply connected within the music community. She has frequently recommended talented musicians and bands, which then have been featured in my radio programs, showcasing her invaluable role in the industry.

I sincerely recommend her for any event that you plan where she will deliver and ensure high quality, professionalism, and lots of fun!

Margarita Portela has a dynamism, creativity, and enthusiasm that I have seen in few producers. As soon as she arrived from Canada, she began working with me as a salesperson and in the production of advertising videos. She is a very intelligent, loyal and honest person.

I have known Margarita for over 20 years, and we have had collaborations together in the work environment, and her talent as an organizer and producer made our event a great success. Margarita has a wonderful personal and friendly attitude, she cares about the immediate needs of everyone and is on it. Margarita is very well organized and does her best to make things happen. I highly recommend Margarita for events, producing and organizing.

Margarita Portela is an experienced cultural manager and arts advocate whose background in economics, deep knowledge of Cuban and international culture, and strong professional judgment have enabled her to identify talent, create opportunities, and build productive relationships among artists, producers, and institutions.

Her determination and problem-solving skills have been demonstrated in challenging situations, including helping ensure that a Los Aldeanos concert could proceed when it was at risk of cancellation.

Based on his extensive experience working with leading Cuban cultural institutions and artists through Grupo de Haro—including Abdala Studios, Bis Music, Carlos Varela, Silvio Rodríguez, Santiago Feliú, and prominent visual artists—Herick De Haro Pineda considers Margarita highly qualified to collaborate with festivals, cultural institutions, and artistic projects seeking responsible and lasting relationships with Cuban and international talent.

I met Margarita Portela in September of 2007 at Carnegie Hall. She is the first one to arrange for me to perform in Cuba. She has introduced me and others to the Afro-Cuban music world as well as introducing the Cubans to the American Jazz world. She’s been producing, managing and promoting great musicians and has been an excellent liaison for many years and for many great musicians in Canada, Cuba and mainly in the USA for years.