João Luiz – Classical Guitar Concert
Saturday, March 29, 2025 7:30pm
At the MAC Downtown
Acoustic,
Classical,
Concert,
Latin-Jazz,
Member Discount
At the MAC Downtown
Acoustic,
Classical,
Concert,
Latin-Jazz,
Member Discount
“João Luiz is one of the musicians that fate presented to me as a partner, springboard, or catapult… I will always be grateful to him and all the other ‘partners’ who made the true realization of the dream, the reality, the purpose.” – EGBERTO GISMONTI, GUITARIST, PIANIST, COMPOSER (BRAZIL)
”João Luiz, an exceptional Brazilian classical guitarist, collaborated closely with me in the creation of 24 studies for classical guitar, each artfully reflecting the diverse styles of 24 composers spanning over a century of Brazilian music. … It demonstrates João Luiz’s exceptional talent and commitment to preserving Brazil’s rich musical heritage.”
– SÉRGIO ASSAD, GUITARIST AND COMPOSER (BRAZIL)
*The New England Guitar Society, a committee of the Milford Arts Council, was established to create a nurturing environment for classical guitarists to meet, share ideas, perform, compose, teach and grow as musicians and enthusiasts. The Society invites guest artists to perform public concerts and hold master classes at the acoustically rich chamber concert hall of the Milford Arts Council.
Two time Latin Grammy nominee guitarist, educator, and composer João Luiz, began to play the popular music of his native Brazil professionally during his childhood and was later trained in classical guitar by his mentor Henrique Pinto.
Scholar/Educator. João holds a masters degree from Mannes College. As the recipient of the Augustine Foundation scholarship he earned his doctoral degree from Manhattan School of Music. He is the director of chamber music at CUNY Hunter College and also teaches guitar at Stony Brook University and Mannes College. He is a recipient of the prestigious 2023 CUNY Feliks Gross award in recognition of his outstanding scholarship which caps a career distinguished by innovation and inspiration.
Composer. Luiz’s Harp Concerto Recife written for Bridget Kibbey was premiered by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019. His concertino for guitar and strings MadriAfro I was premiered in New York by the São Paulo Chamber Soloists in 2022. Recent commissions include works for the USC Thornton School of Music guitar department, NYC Master Chorale, Duo Amaris, GFA, and Duo Sonidos.
Performer. João has performed extensively in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. He is equally at home with classical, Brazilian and world music. His solo guitar, chamber music, and concerto repertoire cover all the main works in the guitar literature from Dowland to Berio. And his Brazilian rhythms extend from choro to baião. This versatility led him to be chosen to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Prieto on a project to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cuban composer Leo Brouwer in a landmark concert in Cuba in 2014.
Recording. João has recorded more than fifteen CDs playing solo, duo, trio and in quartet, most of which have featured his arrangements of classical or Brazilian works.
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