Guitar virtuoso João Luiz in concert at the 2026 Jerry Snyder GuitarFest
with a Prelude performance by Hilbert Chen
Directions
Performer, composer, and educator João Luiz in the fall of 2025 joined the faculty of the Yale School of Music, which notes his "deeply collaborative spirit, technical brilliance, and remarkable teaching experience and versatility across styles and traditions."
A two-time Latin Grammy nominee and winner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild Competition as a member of the internationally acclaimed Brasil Guitar Duo, Luiz has performed worldwide—from Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw to Panama City and Cuba—working with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Yo-Yo Ma, and Carlos Prieto.
Luiz expands the repertoire of his instrument, premiering works written for him by Leo Brouwer, Sérgio Assad, and David Leisner, among others. Whether interpreting the classical canon or championing the rhythms of his native Brazil, Luiz brings clarity, nuance, and energy to his performances.
A gifted composer and arranger, Luiz’s work has been performed and recorded by leading soloists and ensembles of the time, including A Far Cry, Metropolis Ensemble, Bridget Kibbey, Marina Piccinini, Paquito D’Rivera, Clarice Assad, D-Composed, São Paulo Chamber Soloists, Fábio Zanon, Quaternaglia, Jiji, Sybarite 5, the Newman & Oltman guitar duo, Aquarelle Guitar Quartet and Duo Amaris. Recently, he received the São Paulo Art Critics Association (Associação Paulista dos Críticos de Arte) award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon artists in Brazil for his work, Saravá.
In addition to his extensive performing and recording career of more than 20 albums, Luiz has led education initiatives for young musicians in underserved communities in São Paulo, and he continues to explore ways to make classical music more accessible and inclusive. For over two decades, he has been a mentor to many talented young guitarists from all over the world.
Prelude performer Hilbert Chen
Hilbert Chen, 17, has won prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Youth Competition, the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition, the Denver Guitar Festival Youth Competition, and United States International Music Competition. He has performed in masterclass for Steven Aron, Manuel Barrueco, Jonathan Leathwood, the Montenegrin Duo, Raphaella Smits, Meng Su, Marco Tamayo, Ben Verdery, Jason Vieaux, and Andrew York. Hilbert began the guitar at age three and is a student of Robert Miller at the California Conservatory of Music. Outside the guitar, Hilbert is a senior at Valley Christian High School and is an avid baseball player.
