João Catalão began his musical studies on violin at the age of seven at the Brasilia School of Music. He completed a Bachelor Degree in Percussion with Ney Rosauro at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; studies in percussion and chamber music with Emmanuel Séjourné at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg in France; and a Doctorate in Performance at the Université de Montréal with Robert Leroux. Catalão won the second and third prizes in the 2001 Brazil-PAS Composition Contest, and in 2002, he won the Young Soloists Competition of the Salvador Symphony Orchestra. He was a finalist at the Concours International de Luxembourg (6th Edition) with percussion quartet K-TZ, whose goal is to develop instrumental contemporary music and music for theater. Catalão has participated in many international festivals in Europe, Brazil and Canda, and he has collaborated with numerous composers. In Montreal, Catalão is a member of percussion ensemble Sixtrum, as well as contemporary jazz group [IKS].
www.ktzperc.com