Brazilian born and raised guitarist, singer, percussionist, composer and arranger, Joao Junqueira specializes in Brazilian music styles, including Samba, Choro, Bossa Nova, and Baião. Joao performs his original music as a solo act as well as with various ensembles. Joao’s unique approach to music comes from a lifetime spent in Brazil and years of Jazz studies at Ohio State University (BFA), California Institute of the Arts (MFA), culminating with a Ph.D. in  ethnomusicology at University of Colorado, Boulder.

Joao Junqueira has worked intensively as a lecturer of Brazilian music in Denver Metro area, and in the Greater Los Angeles Area. He has taught courses in Brazilian and world musics at Denver Metropolitan State College, and University of Colorado, Boulder. In 2012, Joao Junqueira was the first Global Artist in Residence at Northern Arizona University. The production of  “Musical Journey Through Latin America II," was launched by its first edition in October 2011, at Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, and then on 2012 at College of the Canyons-PAC. The second edition will be presented on October 2nd, 2015.  Dr. Junqueira is a music professor at National University, and New Hall Community Center, and one of the featured music educators in the 2014-2015 K-12 Arts Education at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons.

Joao is a magnetic performer; his music is captivating, sophisticated and a truly authentic expression of Brazilian culture. Improvisation and percussion are the foundation for Joao’s original pieces.  Sonic imagery and visualizations weave a texture of guitar, voice and percussive sounds influenced by Brazilian Folk and Popular, Jazz and World Music. As a recording artist, Mr. Junqueira has released four CDs of original music. One of his recent CDs, “Sympatiko,” a collaborative effort with vocalist and percussionist Chad Hamill, received airplay on over 200 radio stations nationwide.  The CD of his latest project Vento Sur was released in July 2014.