João Carlos Martins

Born João Carlos Gandra da Silva Martins in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 25, 1940, João Carlos Martins is an internationally acclaimed classical pianist and conductor. As a child prodigy, he began studying the piano at the age of 8, winning his first competition a year later. He was invited to perform at the Casals Music Festival in Puerto Rico when he was 18 and came to international prominence when he made his American debut in Washington, D.C. in 1961. João Carlos Martins became known for his interpretations of Bach’s compositions, recording his complete works for piano between 1979 and 1998. João Carlos Martins became an in-demand pianist, playing with many prestigious orchestras in Brazil, Europe, and the US. He performed as the leading pianist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and many others. In 1995, he was brutally attacked and received head injuries and lost the use of his right arm. After therapy, he made a triumphant comeback, but lost the use of most of his right hand after a 2000 surgery. However, João Carlos Martins refused to give up and turned to conducting, beginning a new chapter in his career. In 2020, he was fitted with a pair of bionic gloves and was able to perform on the piano again. João Carlos Martins’ catalog is filled with acclaimed releases including the 20 CD set Bach: The Complete Keyboard Works of J.S. Bach on Labor Records (2009). His many other releases include Paixões (2007), and João Carlos Martins For The Left Hand (2010). In 2022, João Carlos Martins returned to recording as a pianist when he collaborated with guitarist / vocalist Gabriel Sater on the single “Amor de Índio.”

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