About JOÃO PEDRO TEIXEIRA

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 heartland of southern Brazil, he found his voice early through the bellows of the accordion — an instrument he would come to master in all its forms: from the vibrant gaita-ponto and bandoneon to the ancient Chinese sheng.

His formal journey began at the Som Maior Conservatory under Maestro Waldir Teixeira, before deepening through mentorships with legendary accordionists Acyoli Machado and Adelar Bertussi. Yet it was his twelve-year apprenticeship with the genius Hermeto Pascoal that most profoundly shaped his artistry. There, João Pedro absorbed not only technique, but a way of listening to the world — transforming sound into story.

Over the years, João Pedro has composed more than 1,200 original works and released ten albums, two DVDs, and a documentary. His music moves between 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 across Europe and the Americas, sharing stages with symphony orchestras in Brazil. His hands — now immortalized in plaster at the Museo Delle Impronte dei Grandi Fisarmonicisti 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 emblematic project, Um Tom para Jobim, reimagines the poetry of Antônio Carlos Jobim through the delicate breath of the accordion and a full string orchestra.

Beyond the stage, João Pedro is a tireless educator and cultural ambassador. He brings music into schools, cultural centers, and communities — believing that the accordion is not only a voice for joy, but a tool for identity and transformation. His workshops and lectures revive the memory of forgotten traditions while encouraging the creativity of new generations.

João Pedro Teixeira’s artistry is both rooted and universal — a celebration of the accordion as an instrument of the people, a carrier of stories, and a bridge across worlds. Through each note, he invites us to feel the rhythm of Brazil, the pulse of humanity, and the infinite possibilities of music.

Media & Recognition

• Documentary: Universalizing the Accordion
• Honorary Citizen of Canossa, Italy
• Museum Recognition: Museo Delle Impronte Grande Della Accordion
• Eight-time Paraná Accordion Music Champion 
• Five-time Brazilian Accordion Champion
• Champion of the Vacaria and Viamão Accordion International Festival
•  In 2013, João Pedro Teixeira was selected for the 35th edition of the Best of Jazz, an initiative led by renowned music historian and producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro. DeSouteiro is well 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.