© 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.
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
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
VIDEOGRAPHY