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© Marianne Harlé / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

About

João Barradas is one of the most reputable and widely acknowledged European accordionists, working simultaneously between classical music, jazz and improvised music. 


He has won some of the most prestigious international classical accordion contests of which, among others, the World Accordion Trophy (CMA), which he has won twice, the Coupe Mondiale of Accordion (CIA), the International Castelfidardo Contest and the Okud Istra International Competition, stand out.  


Despite his young age, João Barradas was the first ever classical accordionist to perform solo recitals in some of the most prestigious concert halls such as WienerKonzerthaus, Tonhalle Maag Zurich, Sage Gasteshead, Festival d'Aix en Provence, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Culturgest and he has played in Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Kolner Philharmonie, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Casa da Música Porto, Bozar Brussels, Philharmonie de Paris, L'Auditori Barcelona, Mupa Budapest, La Monnaie, Stuttgart Opera House, Sadlers's Wells Theatre London, Onassis Cultural Center Athens, L'Arsenal Metz, Sava Center Belgrade, Centro Cultural de Belém, Tribeca Performing Arts Center New York. 


Alongside his activity as a classical musician, Barradas is one of the most active musicians in Jazz accordion nowadays. His first album as leader with the New York label Inner Circle Music, "Directions", produced by saxophonist Greg Osby, was praised highly by the critics all over the world and made to the restrict Downbeat's Best Albums of the Year.  
At the same time, he starts being noticed by some of the top names of American Jazz, such as Joe Lovano, Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, Lenny White or Walter Smith III and his name comes up at the most important national and international Jazz festivals and venues.  

As an outstanding improviser he has collaborated with various renowned musicians, namely Greg Osby, Mark Turner, Peter Evans, Aka Moon, Mike Stern, Rufus Reid, Gil Goldstein, Fabrizio Cassol, Jacob Sacks, Miles Okasaki, Jerome Jennings, Ben Van Gelder, Francesco Cafiso, Federico Malaman, Stephanne Galland, Fabian Fiorini, Michel Hatzigeorgiou, Wayne Escoffery, Philip Harper, Florian Arbenz, Tineke Postma, among many others.  

João Barradas was nominated ECHO Rising Star 2019/2020 by the European Concert Hall Organization and BBC Music Magazine nominated the accordionist as one of the current year's classical music rising stars. 

About
João Barradas por Vera Marmelo - Culturgest

Accolades

 

2023 -  The Symphoniker Hamburg's Sir Jeffrey Tate Prize

2023 - Vodafone Prémios Play - Best Classical Music Album Nominee

2022 - Vodafone Prémios Play - Best Classical Music Album Nominee

2021 - Vodafone Prémios Play - Best Jazz Album Nominee

2020 - Portuguese Jazz Musician of The Year - Jazzlogical

2020 - 2nd Prize in 9th SPA / Antena 2 Composition Prize for Symphony Orchestra

2020 - BBC Music Magazine - Rising Star Nominee

2019 - ECHO Rising Star 2019/2020 by the European Concert Hall Organization

2018 - Best Jazz Group - Jazzlogical

2018 - Portuguese Jazz Musician of The  Year - Jazzlogical

2018 - Merit Prize "IPL - Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa" 

2017 - Downbeat's Best Album of The Year Nominee  - João Barradas "Directions"

2017 - RTP / Festa do Jazz - New Best Artist

2017 - RTP / Festa do Jazz - Best Group

2016 - 1st Prize - Young Musician Award - Jazz 

2015 - 1st Prize in Made in New York Jazz Competition (All Categories) 

2015 - 1st Prize in Made in New York Jazz Competition (Solo Instrumental Category) 

2014 - The Best Interpreter Award – Folefest 2014 

2014  – 1st Prize Folefest 2014

2013  – 1st Prize in 7th V-Accordion Festival Roland Iberia 

2013 – 1st Prize at 11th Festa do Jazz do Teatro S. Luiz, Lisbon 

2013 - The Best Interpreter Award– Folefest 2013 

2013  – 1st Prize Folefest  2013

2012  – 1st Prize EDP Cool Jazz Talents, Portugal 

2010 – 1st Prize in 60th World Accordion Trophy (CMA), Spain – Juvenile Classical  

2010 – 1st Prize in the 63rd World Cup Accordion (CIA), Croatia, Juvenile Classical 

2010  – 1st Prize in 16th National Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert 

2010 – 1st Prize in International Accordion Award “Cidade de Alcobaça” 

2010 - Special Prize “Pigini Accordions” in 63rd CIA Coupe Mundial (Croatia) 

2009  – 1st Prize in 15th National Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concer

2008  – 1st Prize in 14th National accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert 

2008 - Honorary Mention as instrumentalist/soloist, at 7th Festa do Jazz at São Luiz.

2007 - 1st Prize in 57th World Accordion Trophy (CMA), Russia, Junior Varietté 

2007 - Honorary Mention of Vitorino Matono Music Institution 
2007 - Merit Medal by Benavente Municipality 
2007 - Ambassador by Town Council of Samora Correia for Portugal  and abroad. 

2007 – 1st Prize in 13th National Accordion Trophy, category Light Juvenile 
2007 –1st Prize in 13th National Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert  

2007–1st Prize 2nd Accordion Contest, Acordeons de Vila de Cedeira, Spain, Junior

2007 – 1st Prize in 4th Iberian Accordion Trophy, category Light Juvenile 
2007 – 1st Prize in 4th Iberian Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert  

2006 – 1st Prize in 12th National Accordion Trophy, category Light Juvenile 
2006 – 1st Prize in 12th National Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert  

2006 – 1st Prize in 3rd Iberian Accordion Trophy, category Light Juvenile 
2006 – 1st Prize in 3rd Iberian Accordion Trophy, category Juvenile Concert 

2006 –1st Prize in Vila de Cedeira, 1st Accordion Contest, Spain, category Junior Classica

2005 –1st Prize in 11th National Accordion Trophy, category Light Juvenile

2004 –1st Prize in 29th International “Citta di Castelfidardo”Award, Italy, category H

2004 - Special Prize “Intermusik Schmulling” (Germany)

2004 - André Thepaz Prize (Italy) 

2003 – 1st Prize in 36th International Accordion Competition, Croatia, category B

2002 – 1st Prize in 8th National Accordion Trophy, category Infantile 

2002 - One of the Winners of “Bravo Bravíssimo", talent contest on Portuguese TV SIC

2001 – 1st Prize in 13th Accordion Festival Barra Cheia

2000 – 1st Prize in 12th Accordion Festival Barra Cheia 

2000 – 1st Prize in 6th National Accordion Trophy, category Initiated 

© Vera Marmelo / Culturgest

Music

Music
Contact Information Vera Marmelo

Selected Discography

His extensive discography as a leader, co-leader, sideman and guest artist includes several

prize-winning recordings and features solo recitals, live concerts, chamber music, concerti and guest appearances – on the Alpha Classics, Warner Music, Fuga Libera, Inner Circle Music, Nischo Records, Outhere Music, Clean Feed, Sony Music and various other labels.

© Vera Marmelo / Culturgest

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