YSM Welcomes João Luiz Rezende to Faculty
The Yale School of Music is excited to share that we will welcome gifted performer, composer, and educator, guitarist João Luiz Rezende to the faculty in the coming school year.
Professor Rezende joins the School after careful consideration of several strong candidates by a search committee of faculty and administrators who represented a wide range of perspectives. Professor Rezende was selected for his deeply collaborative spirit, technical brilliance, and remarkable teaching experience and versatility across styles and traditions.
A two-time Latin Grammy nominee and winner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild Competition as a member of the internationally acclaimed Brasil Guitar Duo, Professor Rezende has performed worldwide—from Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw to Panama City and Cuba—working with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Yo-Yo Ma, and Carlos Prieto.
Professor Rezende has demonstrated a commitment to expanding the repertoire of his instrument, premiering works written for him by some of the most important guitar composers of our time, such as Leo Brouwer, Sérgio Assad, Egberto Gismonti, Marco Pereira, Dusan Bogdanovic, David Leisner, and Frederic Hand. Whether interpreting the classical canon or championing the rhythms of his native Brazil, Professor Rezende brings clarity, nuance, and energy to his performances.
A gifted composer and arranger, Professor Rezende’s work has been performed and recorded by leading soloists and ensembles of the time, including A Far Cry, Metropolis Ensemble, Bridget Kibbey, Marina Piccinini, Paquito D’Rivera, Clarice Assad, D-Composed, São Paulo Chamber Soloists, Fábio Zanon, Quaternaglia, Jiji, Sybarite 5, The Newman & Oltman guitar duo, Aquarelle Guitar Quartet and Duo Amaris. Recently, he received the São Paulo Art Critics Association (Associação Paulista dos Críticos de Arte) award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon artists in Brazil for his work, Saravá.
In addition to his extensive performing and recording career of over 20 albums, Professor Rezende has led education initiatives for young musicians in underserved communities in São Paulo, and he continues to explore ways to make classical music more accessible and inclusive. For over two decades, he has been a mentor to many talented young guitarists from all over the world.
The School of Music is looking forward to the creativity, connection, and inspiration he will bring to the YSM community in the years ahead.
