ABOUT JOAO PEDRO TEIXEIRA
THE UNIVERSAL VOICE OF THE ACCORDION
Where the Accordion Sings the Soul of the World
João Pedro Teixeira is a Brazilian accordionist, composer, arranger, and educator whose life is a symphony of tradition, innovation, and passion. Born in the cultural heart of southern Brazil, he discovered his voice early through the accordion's bellows—an instrument he would come to master in all its forms: from the vibrant harmonica and bandoneon to the ancient Chinese sheng.
His formal career began at the Som Maior Music Conservatory, under the baton of Maestro Waldir Teixeira, before deepening his mentorship with legendary accordionists Acyoli Machado and Adelar Bertussi. However, it was his twelve-year apprenticeship with the brilliant Hermeto Pascoal that profoundly shaped his art. There, João Pedro absorbed not only technique, but also a way of listening to the world—transforming sound into history.
Over the years, João Pedro has composed more than 1,200 original works and released ten albums, two DVDs, and a documentary. His music spans genres and generations, blending the earthy pulse of bugios and chamamés with the refined elegance of choro, baião, forró, jazz, and classical music. In 2013, he was honored among the "Best of Jazz" by producer and Grammy voting member Arnaldo DeSouteiro—a rare distinction for an accordionist.
Teixeira has performed in concert halls and festivals throughout Europe and the Americas, sharing stages with symphony orchestras in Brazil. His hands—now immortalized in plaster at the Museo Delle Impronte dei Grandi Fisharmonicisti in Italy—rest alongside those of Art Van Damme, Richard Galliano, and Frank Marocco, confirming his legacy among the greats of the instrument.
His acclaimed 50-minute work, Unexpected Symphony, composed during the pandemic, premiered with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and reveals his unique ability to weave emotion, history, and imagination into orchestral textures. Another iconic project, A Tone for Jobim, reimagines the poetry of Antônio Carlos Jobim through the delicate breathing of the accordion and a full string orchestra.
Beyond the stage, João Pedro is a tireless educator and cultural ambassador. He brings music to schools, cultural centers, and communities—believing that the accordion is not only a voice of joy, but a tool of identity and transformation. His workshops and lectures revive the memory of forgotten traditions while stimulating the creativity of new generations.
João Pedro Teixeira's art is deep-rooted and universal—a celebration of the accordion as an instrument of the people, a bearer of stories, and a bridge between worlds. Through each note, he invites us to feel the rhythm of Brazil, the pulse of humanity, and the infinite possibilities of music.
Media and Recognition
- Documentary: Universalizing the Accordion
- Honorary Citizen of Canossa, Italy
- Museum Recognition: Museo Delle Impronte Grande Della Acordeão
- Eight-Time Paraná Accordion Champion
- Five-Time Brazilian Accordion Champion
- Champion of the Vacaria and Viamão International Accordion Festival
- In 2013, João Pedro Teixeira was selected for the 35th edition of Best of Jazz, an initiative led by renowned historian and music producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro. DeSouteiro is known for his work as a Grammy voting member and founder of Jazz Station Records, as well as being an influential figure in the international jazz scene.
Recent Highlights
João Pedro Teixeira is a renowned Brazilian musician known for his mastery of the accordion and its extended family—including concertinas, bandoneons, and the ancient sheng. His sound blends Brazilian roots with global influences. With over 15 years of research, he has explored the origins of the accordion and developed advanced techniques across ten types of the instrument, championing the concept of a Universal Accordion.
Internationally recognized for fusing Brazilian traditions with classical and orchestral music, Teixeira has performed with major symphony and accordion orchestras around the world.
Recent highlights include:
- Rhino Jazz Festival 2023, France
- Solo concert in Biberach, Germany (September 2023)
- Concert with string quartet in Viana do Castelo, Portugal (October 2023)
- Concert with string quartet in Bergamo, Italy (October 2023)
- Concert tour of Italian cities: Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, Castelnuovo, Canossa, Bologna, Castelfidardo, Orvieto, Arezzo, and Rome (September 2017)
Premiere of "Suite à Matilde di Canossa" at Canossa Castle, Italy (2017)
- 33-city tour in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for the Akkordeonale International Festival (April/May 2018)
- Premiere of "De Adamas a Duke" at Château de Goutelas, Marcoux, France, with the Torino String Quintet (September 2018)
His musical journey reveals the rich and expressive voice of the accordion—universal, timeless, and profoundly human.