Rodrigo Capistrano

Rodrigo Machado Capistrano was born in Curitiba, PR, Brazil. He graduated EMBAP, “Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná” (School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Saxophone.  He futhered his studies in chamber music, with a post gradutation extention course at the same institution. His research paper was entitled “The Brazilian Repertoire for Saxophone in Chamber Music", first academic work on the subject.

With a scholarship from the Brazilian Government he took courses for further development of performance for the saxophone at the “Conservatoire National de Musique de Mulhouse” (National Music Conservatory of Mulhouse, France), where he attained the First Prize in saxophone and the Chamber music Gold Medal). His next prize was the “Diplôme de Concert – Prix Superieur Interregional”, Contest for conservatories in France and in Luxemburg that takes place in Besançon, France.

In 2002, as head of the saxofone ensemble A Plenos Pulmões, he won the Bianca Bianchi Contest that took place at the Third Chamber Music Festival of Curitiba.

In Brazil he taught at many music festivals and workshops in Curitiba - PR (Oficinas de Música 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 editions), Cascavel - PR (Festivais de Música 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2004 editions), São José dos Pinhais - PR, Campo Mourão - PR, Itaipulândia - PR, Faxinal do Céu - PR, Candói - PR, São Mateus do Sul - PR, Araucária - PR, Bela Vista do Paraíso - PR, Marechal Cândido Rondon - PR, Apucarana - PR, Ribeirão Claro - PR, Palmas - PR, São Luiz - MA, Natal - RN, Porto Alegre - RS, Canela - RS, Fortaleza - CE, Icó - CE “Primeiro Festival de Música de Câmara do Ceará” (First Chamber Music Festival of Ceará - 2006), Tatuí - SP “Primeiro Encontro Internacional de Saxofonistas – 2004” and the “Terceiro Encontro Internacional de Saxofonistas – 2007” (First and Third International Meet of Saxophonists - 2004 and 2007 respectively), São Paulo - SP, Jaraguá do Sul - SC (FEMUSC 2007 and 2008 editions), Teresina - PI “Painéis Funarte de Bandas de Música 2007” (Funarte Panels of Music Bands 2007), Marechal Deodoro - AL (Funarte Panels of Music Bands 2008), Bananeiras - PB (Funarte Panels of Music Bands 2009), Porto União - SC, Londrina - PR and Salvador - BA (UFBA), 1era Convencion Vientos Del Sur (Bolívia - 2011), Perusax 2012 (Cusco), I ESAX BRASÍLIA (2013), II Encontro Alagoano de Saxofonistas-2018 (Maceió-AL), IV Encuentro Internacional de Saxofonistas de Bolívia (International Meet of Saxophonists of Bolivia ; Santa Cruz de La Sierra 2018).                                 

With an invitation From the Itamaraty he gave a workshop and concert at the School of Arts of  Ghana University.  Also in 2005 he represented the state of Paraná at the “Year of Brazil in France”, playing five shows with the group Três no Choro.

Since 1993 has been a saxophonist on call for the Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná in concerts and recordings.

As soloist he has played with the following orquestras: Orquestra de Câmara da Cidade de Curitiba, Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná, Orquestra à Base de Corda (CMPB de Curitiba), Orquestra Filarmônica Juvenil da UFPR, Banda Sinfônica Jovem do Estado de São Paulo and Banda Sinfônica da Embap.

As a chamber musician he is the leader of a franco-brazilian saxophone quartet called Quatuor Paris-Rio that has played in Frace, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil.

He Also played shows in Denmark with the singer Maria Hiort Petersen and group Who’s focus is Brazilian Popular Music, Bossa Nova and Choro. This group allowed R. Capistrano to show his versatility as an instrumentalist while making evident his apreciation for his cultural roots.

At the present he is professor of saxophone and chamber music at EMBAP, “Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná” (School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná).