Fernando Duarte

Origin

Brasília, DF

Years Active

1990s

Genres

choro, brazilian instrumental music, classical music

Instruments

mandolin, acoustic guitar, piano

Biography

Fernando Duarte is a renowned Brazilian instrumentalist, teacher, and researcher, with a multifaceted career spanning the mandolin, classical music, and academic research on Brazilian popular music. His work as a teacher at the Escola de Música de Brasília and director of the Orquestra de Bandolins de Brasília demonstrates his commitment to training new musicians and spreading the Brazilian instrumental repertoire. As a researcher, Duarte has dedicated himself to deepening knowledge about the mandolin, its history, and its diverse musical applications, resulting in didactic publications of great value for students and musicians.

His work as a composer and arranger explores the vast possibilities of the mandolin, often in dialogue with other instruments and musical genres. He is known for expanding the instrument's language, integrating it into contexts that go beyond traditional choro, although this remains a fundamental pillar of his musical expression. Fernando Duarte's research on the history of the mandolin in Brazil, in particular, contributes significantly to the preservation and dissemination of this important instrument in the country's musical culture.

In addition to his work as an instrumentalist and educator, Fernando Duarte also stands out as a film score composer and music producer. His academic background, with a doctorate in music, gives him a solid foundation for his research and creations, allowing him to navigate masterfully between performance, composition, and teaching. He is recognized for his work in expanding the classical repertoire for the mandolin and for his contribution to Brazilian instrumental music.

Discography

• Um Frevo Impossível (2019)
• Outros Frevos (2021)
• Um Frevo Impossível Dois (2022)
• Um Frevo Impossível Três (2026)