Winner of the 2015 Francisco Tárrega International guitar Competition and defined as “a rising star” by the newspaper “Liechtensteiner Vaterland” Joao Carlos Victor has been highlighted in the international music scene being invited to play at renowned festivals, concert series, radio and television.
His interest in contemporary music gave him the opportunity to collaborate with composers of great reputation such as: Sofia Gubaidulina, Paulo Costa Lima, Wellington Gomes, Leonardo Boccia and Paulo Rios Filho.
Also dedicated to the study of early music Joao had a wide education with important musicians such as: Peter Croton (lute professor at the “Schola Cantorum Basiliensis”), Bettina Seeliger (harpsichord teacher at the “Hochschule für Musik Luzern”) and Julian Behr (lute teacher at the “Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg”). He attended special courses and master classes with Paul O´Dette (lute), Eduardo Egüez (lute), Marieke Spaans (harpsichordist, the last student of Gustav Leonhardt) and the duo Maccari-Pugliese (guitar duo specialized in music from the XIX century).
Joao has a large competition list with 18 prizes which include: XLIX Francisco Tárrega International Guitar Competition, VIIo Ligita International Guitar Competition, Kammermusikwettbewerb des Mozartvereins 1829 Nürnberg, Iº Concurso Internacional Vital Medeiros, winning also the public award; VIIIo Concurso Nacional Heitor Villa-Lobos, winning also the award as best Villa-Lobos Interpreter.
Born in Salvador-Bahia in 1985 Joao holds a Bachelor Degree in Guitar from the Universidade Federal da Bahia in the class of Prof. Dr. Mario Ulloa. In 2008 he was awarded a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship for the pos-graduate program in Germany under the tutelage of Franz Halasz at the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg. Soon after João moved to Switzerland to attend a Masters in Performance at the Hochschule für Musik Luzern under the guidance of the notorious contemporary music specialist Mats Scheidegger.
In July 2014 Joao obtained the most important academic title in the Swiss musical performance area with the highest grade: the “ Master of Arts in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance Solist” from the Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel in the class of the acclaimed guitarist Pablo Marquez.
Living nowadays in Basel Joao continues his work with the modern guitar as well as his development dedicating himself to the study of the romantic guitar and early music.
1º Prize
1st Prize at the XLIX Francisco Tarrega International Guitar Competition, 2015, Benicassim – Spain
1st Prize at the VII Ligita International Guitar Competition, 2013, Liechtenstein.
1st Prize at the International Kammermusik‐Wettbewerb des Mozartvereins 1829, 2010, Nürnberg – Germany
1st Prize at the I Young Solist Competition of IV Festival de Musica de Ouro Branco, 2007, Ouro Branco – Brazil
1st Prize at the I International Guitar Competition Vital Medeiros, 2007, Mogi das Cruzes – Brazil
1st Prize at the VIII National Competition Heitor Villa‐Lobos, 2007, Vitoria – Brazil
1st Prize at the III Teresina National Guitar Competition, 2007, Teresina – Brazil
1st Prize at the I National Guitar Competition UFG, 2004, Goiania ‐ Brazil
1st Prize at the II Musicalis National Guitar Competition, 1998, São Paulo – Brazil.
Special Prizes
Prize as the best interpretation of Joaquin Rodrigo´s work, 2015, Benicassim – Spain
Special Audience Prize at the I International Competition Vital Medeiros, 2007, Mogi das Cruzes – Brazil
Prize as the best Heitor Villa‐Lobos Interpreter at the VIII National Competition Heitor Villa‐Lobos, 2007, Vitoria – Brazil
Prize as the best Heitor Villa‐Lobos Interpreter at the I National Guitar Competition UFG, 2004, Goiania ‐ Brazil
Prize as the best Interpreter of the Sonata para Violão from Cesar Guerra‐Peixe at the II Jose Lucena Vaz Guitar Competition, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Other Prizes
2nd Prize at the II Teresina National Guitar Competition, 2006, Teresina – Brazil
2nd Prize at the IX Souza Lima National Guitar Competition, 1998, São Paulo – Brazil
3rd Prize at the II Jose Lucena Vaz Guitar Competition, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
4th Prize at the VII Villa‐Lobos National Competition, 2004, Vitoria ‐ Brazil