Bio
André Almeida is a guitarist born in Quito, Ecuador in 1997. With 15 years of experience playing the instrument, he started his musical journey at the age of 11 when he was captivated by the sweet sounds emanating from the guitar, which evoked unique, deep, and inexplicable sensations in him.
Since then, he has dedicated himself passionately to the guitar, initially learning on his own before immersing himself fully in the world of popular and academic music. His love for the guitar led him to study at Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), where he trained under renowned musicians and professors.
During his time at university, he gained solid knowledge in music theory, guitar technique, composition, production, and performance in genres such as blues, rock, funk, jazz, and world music. These have been fundamental to the development of his career as a guitarist and musician.
His influences include great guitarists like Tommy Emmanuel, Joe Pass, Ted Greene, Julian Lage, and Pat Metheny, who have left a mark on his musical style and artistic evolution.
He has an extensive and varied participation in the music scene, leaving his mark on music festivals and cultural events. Some of his notable performances include the Jazz CAEP Quito festival in 2019, "Noche Blanca" at the LDU stadium in 2020, and the "Vive la Guitarra" festival in 2021. Additionally, he has recorded music singles as a session guitarist with the UDLA Big Band and Ecuadorian artists.
In recent years, André has devoted himself to fingerstyle and has explored various musical styles in solo guitar performance, encompassing genres such as jazz, classical music, Latin American genres like samba, bossa nova, Argentine tango, and boleros, as well as flamenco and popular European songs. He has also developed his talent by adapting pop songs to fingerstyle guitar, ranging from Beatles classics to modern hits by Coldplay.
Furthermore, André has also been dedicated to music education, teaching guitar and ukulele in music academies and private schools in Quito. He is characterized by his constant desire to learn, incorporating pedagogical and scientific tools to enrich his own learning and that of his students.
With his dedication and passion for music, André continues to achieve success and make an impact in the world of the guitar, inspiring others through his art and experience as a guitarist.