João Luís (b. 2000) is one of the leading young saxophone players of the most recent generation in Portugal. During his musical career, he has been acclaimed in several competitions, including a third place in the medium saxophone level of the Prémios Jovens Músicos, a second place in the senior category of the Oliveira de Azeméis International Wind Instruments Competition and a first place in the D Woodwinds category of the 6th Alto Minho International Wind Instruments Competition.
He began his musical studies at the Academia de Artes de Chaves in 2011 on saxophone in the class of Professor Bruno Nunes. From 2018 to 2023, João studied at the University of Aveiro. During that period, he achieved a Bachelor Degree in Music with the well-known Portuguese saxophonist Fernando Ramos. Recently, João finished his Masters in Music Teaching.
Currently, João is enrolled in a Master’s Degree in Music Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, under the tutoring of the famous English saxophonist, Rob Buckland.
During his musical career, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with various orchestras and bands, including the Wind Orchestra of the Chaves Academy of Arts. This collaboration has allowed him to perform at a high level in emblematic concert halls not only in Portugal but also in other countries, leading him to win numerous awards together with the orchestra. These include the Sala Suggia at Casa da Música, the Auditorium at EUROPARQUE, both Portuguese venues, Palau Altea Centre D’Arts in Spain and Theater Kerkrade in the Netherlands.
João Luís performs regularly with chamber music groups, including the saxophone quartet Liberum Quartet, the saxophone ensembles NeoEnsemble and Orquestra de Saxofones do Dão, in solo concerts or accompanied with piano, and also with the Banda Sinfónica Transmonta, of which he is one of the principal members of the saxophone section.
I love to have time and opportunities to play different types of music with different people and groups.
– João Luís, Saxophonist –
Whether you’re planning an event, seeking a collaboration, have music inquiries, want to improve your saxophone skills, or simply want to say hello, João Luís is just a message away. Let’s connect and share the magic of music.