I was born and raised in Fortaleza, a big coastal city in the Northeast of Brazil. My relationship with music started early in my life by taking flute and piano lessons. When I was around 10 years old, I joined my school’s music band to play clarinet. A few months later, I have also started learning the saxophone (first alto, then tenor and soprano). My interest for jazz started around this age, upon my father’s advice (who was a devoted listener and had a great collection of LPs and CDs). I have studied saxophone and jazz improvisation for many years with US-educated awarded saxophonist Marcio Resende and by regularly attending music festivals in Brazil, such as the Summer Festival of the Brasilia Music School (EMB). At the EMB, I have had the chance to study and play with prominent names of Brazilian music, such as grammy-nominated saxophonist Sérgio Galvão, saxophonist Paulo Levi and conductor Manoel Carvalho (in the context of big band arrangements). I have also taken piano lessons for improving skills in jazz harmony and composition with Nelma Dahas, Lu Basile and Jeff Gardner, on top of joining several workshops with top musicians, such as guitarist Stanley Jordan and saxophonist Bob Mintzer (currently the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany).

Throughout the years, I have played and recorded with several musicians from Brazil and abroad in different formations and situations (including jazz festivals, such as the Guaramiranga Jazz and Blues Festival in Brazil). I have also joined jam sessions with top musicians, such as (in memoriam) saxophonist Vinicius Dorin and pianist Andre Marques (from the Hermeto Pascoal group) and the internationally-acclaimed guitarist Toninho Horta.

My first CD “Musiconauta” was recorded when I was only 16 years old and counted with the participation of well-reputed musicians in Brazil’s national scene (such as pianist Jeff Gardner, saxophonist Marcio Resende, drummer Pantico Rocha, among others). It has rendered me two local awards, one for the best instrumental CD of the year and the other for the best young instrumentalist.

I have started giving live performances even before this age. Among the many stages where I performed are, for instance, the National Theater of Brasilia (Brazil’s capital) and Jose de Alencar Theater (in my hometown Fortaleza, Brazil). I have also recently performed in well-known regional stages in Germany such as the Apollo Theater and Lÿz Kulturhaus in Siegen.

After moving to Edinburgh (Scotland) to pursue a PhD in Law, I have continued to learn, explore and practice music. Among other things, I have regularly joined several jam sessions in the UK (such as in The Jazz Bar in Edinburgh). Due to my family life, I ended up in Germany, first in Bonn and then in Siegen.

Currently, I am concluding a Master in Jazz Saxophone at Conservatorium Maastricht (Netherlands). I am also a permanent member of the Uni Siegen Big Band (led by Martin Reuthner) and have formed a jazz quartet in Siegen. I also engage in other musical projects, such as a duo with guitarist Mario Mammone,

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