Marco Pereira

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Marco Antônio Pereira

Years Active

1985–2024

Genres

brazilian jazz, latin indie, classical, jazz, MPB, choro, samba, baião, maracatu, frevo

Instruments

guitar, classical guitar

Biography

Marco Pereira is a highly acclaimed Brazilian guitarist, composer, and educator, born in São Paulo in 1950. His musical journey is characterized by a unique fusion of European classical guitar tradition, jazz harmony, and the rich tapestry of Brazilian popular music, including choro, samba, baião, maracatu, and frevo. He received his early classical guitar training from the renowned Uruguayan master Isaías Sávio. Pereira further honed his skills in Europe, earning master's degrees in classical guitar performance and musicology from the Université Musicale Internationale in Paris and the University of Paris-Sorbonne, respectively. His master's thesis focused on the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos for guitar.

Pereira's career has been marked by significant international recognition, including first prizes at prestigious guitar competitions such as the Concurso Andrés Segóvia in Palma de Mallorca and the Concurso Francisco Tárrega in Valencia, Spain. He has also received numerous accolades in Brazil, including multiple Sharp Awards for Best Soloist, Best Instrumental Album, and Best Popular Music Arranger. His work as an arranger was notably recognized for Gal Costa's album "Gal." Throughout his career, Pereira has collaborated with a vast array of prominent Brazilian artists, including Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Wagner Tiso, among many others.

Beyond his performing and composing career, Marco Pereira has dedicated himself to education. He established classical guitar and functional harmony courses at the University of Brasília and has been a professor in the Composition Department at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). His pedagogical contributions include several widely used instructional publications on Brazilian rhythms, harmony, and seven-string guitar technique. His compositions are performed and studied globally, and his extensive discography showcases a consistent commitment to artistic innovation and a deep respect for Brazilian musical heritage.