© Marianne Harlé / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
About
João Barradas stands out as one of the most creative musicians on the European accordion scene, moving simultaneously between classical and improvised music.
He gave the first-ever accordion recitals in concert halls such as the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and performs as a soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, the Symphoniker Hamburg, the Orchestra della Toscana, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, the Porto Symphony Orchestra Casa da Música and the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, under the direction of prestigious conductors such as Edward Gardner, Alondra de la Parra, Sylvain Cambreling, Douglas Boyd, Christoph Poppen, Joana Carneiro and Pedro Neves.
In the world of Jazz, he has increased the presence of his instrument by collaborating with some of the most important contemporary improvisers, such as: Mark Turner, Peter Evans, Aaron Parks, Jonathan Kreisberg, Maria Schneider, Aka Moon, Greg Osby, Mike Stern, Rufus Reid, David Binney, Gil Goldstein, Perico Sambeat, Christian Lillinger, Tineke Postma and even in larger groups such as the Brussels Jazz Orchestra .
He was nominated ECHO Rising Star by the European Concert Hall Organization in 2019. This current season he will be the Artist in Residence at Casa da Música, Porto and was awarded the Sir Jeffrey Tate Award in Germany.
Accolades
2025 - Prémios Play - Best Jazz Album (Eduardo Cardinho "Not Far From Paradise")
2025 - Artist in Residency - Orquestra do Algarve
2024 - Artist in Residency - Casa da Música
2024 - The Symphoniker Hamburg's Sir Jeffrey Tate Prize
2024 - Prémios Play - Best Jazz Album Nominee (Carlos Bica "Playing with Beethoven)
2023 - Prémios Play - Best Classical Music Album Nominee
2022 - Prémios Play - Best Classical Music Album Nominee
2021 - 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, guest artist and producer 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
João Barradas | CONTINUUM (Documentary)
João Barradas | CONTINUUM (Documentary)
W. A. Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major K.488 | João Barradas "The Space Within"
F. Chopin - Prelude in B flat minor Op. 28 No. 16 | João Barradas "Transcriptions"
J. S. Bach - Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor - BWV 582 | João Barradas
J. S. Bach - Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor BWV 1052 | João Barradas, Douglas Boyd, OSPCDM
F. Chopin - Étude in C major Op. 10 No. 1 | João Barradas "Transcriptions"
R. Schumann - Piano Quintet in E flat Major, Op. 44 | João Barradas "Transcriptions"
L. Tinoco - Accordion Concerto | João Barradas "Unfolding"
J. S. Bach - Keyboard Concerto No. 4 in A Major BWV 1055 (Live) | João Barradas, Pedro Neves, OML
T. Hosokawa - Voyage IV - Extasis | João Barradas "The Space Within"
F. Schubert - Drei Klavierstücke, D.946 | João Barradas "Transcriptions"
J. S. Bach - Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor BWV 1056 | João Barradas, Pedro Neves, OML
L. Tinoco - Mind The Gap | João Barradas "Unfolding"
Solar - João Barradas Trio | "Standards (Vol. I)"
Fragment (feat. Jonathan Kreisberg) live at Funchal Jazz Festival | João Barradas Trio
For All We Know - João Barradas Trio | "Standards (Vol. I)"
Minority (feat. Ricardo Toscano) - João Barradas Trio | "Standards (Vol. II)"
João Barradas "Portrait" - The Order of Things (Feat. Mark Turner)
Cube | João Barradas "Aperture"
João Barradas soloing on "Mr Joy" by Aka Moon (Bozar, Brussels)
Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Aka Moon, João Barradas - The Why and The How (Accordion solo)
Casa | João Barradas "Aperture"
I Didn't Know What Time It Was - João Barradas Trio | "Standards (Vol. I)"
João Barradas "Home" - The Human Journey In Search Of Meaning
Gallery
