Henrique Annes

Origin

Recife, PE

Genres

classical guitar, choro, instrumental music

Instruments

guitar, cavaquinho

Biography

Henrique Annes was a renowned Brazilian classical guitarist, composer, conductor, and educator born in Recife. Immersed in music from a young age through his flutist father, he taught himself to play the cavaquinho and guitar before being discovered as a teenager by broadcaster Brivaldo Franklin. He later refined his artistry under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Amaro Siqueira and José Maria Carrión, eventually graduating from the Conservatório Pernambucano de Música.

Throughout his illustrious career, Annes became a central figure in the musical landscape of Pernambuco, performing extensively both in Brazil and abroad alongside prominent symphony and chamber orchestras. He was a foundational member of notable ensembles including the Orquestra Armorial de Câmara and the Orquestra de Cordas Dedilhadas de Pernambuco, and he founded the Oficina de Cordas. His profound musicianship and stylistic mastery drew favorable comparisons to legendary guitarists like Dilermando Reis.

As an educator, Annes dedicated 37 years to teaching at the Conservatório Pernambucano de Música—where he established the classical guitar program at the request of maestro Cussy de Almeida—and also taught at the Universidade de Pernambuco. He recorded several influential albums in Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom, cementing his legacy as a vital bridge between past generations of Northeastern guitarists and contemporary musicians. Following his passing in 2021, his contributions to the choro tradition and Brazilian classical guitar continued to be deeply celebrated within the national music community.