Accordionist • Composer • Arranger • Educator
João Pedro is a multifaceted Brazilian musician, celebrated for his mastery of the accordion and its extended family, including concertinas, bandoneons, and the ancient sheng. His music seamlessly blends Brazilian roots with global influences. With over 15 years of research, João Pedro Teixeira explores the origins of the accordion and masters techniques in ten distinct types of the instrument.
João Pedro's formal training began at the Som Maior Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of Professor and Maestro Waldir Teixeira, followed by studies with accordion icons Acyoli Machado and Adelar Bertussi. However, it was his 12-year mentorship with Hermeto Pascoal that he describes as his greatest school, shaping his vision as a composer and performer.
He has released 10 CDs, two DVDs, and a document
ary, in addition to hundreds of collaborations, including film soundtracks distributed by Paris Films. The shape of his right hand was immortalized in plaster at the Museo Delle Impronte Grande Della Accordion in Vicenza, Italy—a tribute engraved alongside the handprints of accordion legends—Art Van Damme (USA), Frank Marocco (USA), Richard Galliano (France), and Paolo Gandolfi (Italy)—each with a timeless echo of their homelands, resonating in the global symphony of the accordion.
As a composer, João Pedro created more than 1,200 works. Among them, the "Suite a Matilde di Canossa" stands out, earning him honorary citizenship in Canossa, Italy. His 50-minute orchestral work, "Sinfonia Inesperada," composed during the pandemic, premiered with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra to great acclaim.
A true cultural ambassador, João Pedro has toured extensively throughout Europe and the Americas, performing with renowned groups such as the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, the Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra, the Paraná State Symphony Orchestra, and many others. He is also deeply dedicated to education and community outreach, bringing music to schools, cultural centers, and underserved communities.
In his solo concerts, he demonstrates the evolution and versatility of the accordion, playing a variety of instruments, encompassing styles ranging from choro and forró to tango and jazz. His trio project, "Memórias da Terra," celebrates the rhythms and landscapes of southern Brazil, while his duo collaborations with artists such as Miquéu Montanaro and Jovino Santos Neto explore new musical dialogues.
João Pedro Teixeira's mission is to universalize the accordion, making its voice heard in both classical and popular music, and to preserve and develop Brazil's rich musical heritage.
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.
