The Baltimore Classical Guitar Society

This concert is sponsored by TAM Airlines.

“...astonishing, mesmerizing display of genius technique.”  (The Advertiser, Australia)

Yamandu Costa was born in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where he began his guitar studies with his father Algacir Costa, band leader of "Os Fronteiriços", when he was 7 years old. Later, he perfected his technique with Lúcio Yanel, Argentine virtuoso who was then settled in Brazil.

Until the age of 15, Yamandú´s only music school was the folk music from the south of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Nevertheless, after he heard Radamés Gnatalli´s work, he decided to get in contact with the music of other renowned Brazilian musicians, such as Baden Powell, Tom Jobim, Raphael Rabello, among others. When he was 17, he played for the first time in São Paulo at "Circuito Cultural Banco do Brasil" (BB Cultural Tour). The event was produced by "Estúdio Tom Brazil" (Tom Brazil studio), and from then on he was recognized as one of the most gifted guitar players of Brazil.

One of the greatest geniuses of Brazilian music of all times, young Yamandu deserves the highest praise. Whenever he is on stage, he fills with joy the most select audience since his impressive performance shows the deep intimacy between Yamandu and his guitar. The recognition he has earned throughout the years reveals what he can offer the audience - recreation of the magic of music - once from his fingers the music he plays travels through his body and soul and is almost miraculously transformed.
Yamandu is a guitar player, composer and arranger that does not fit into a single music style, yet he creates his own when he combines all of them playing his 7-string guitar. Yamandu fully deserves his beautiful name which in "tupi-guarani", the native language of Brazilian indians, means "the precursor of the waters of the world"

Participations:

Winner of Califórnia Award of Uruguaiana -1995
Buenos Aires Tour - 1998
Montevideo Show - 1998
25o prize of best player in Rio Grande do Sul Prize of Instrumental Music Revelation of the state of Rio Grande.
Nashville Festival (EUA) - 1998
Banco do Brasil Circuito Cultural - 1999 - Participation Winner of 2001 Visa Instrumental Edition
Release of Visa Award CD - " Yamandú"- December 03, 2001
Guitar Festival in Chile (2001)

Free Jazz Festival 2001 - Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
32o. Winter Festival of Campos de Jordão - July 2001
33o. Winter Festival of Campos de Jordão - July 2002
Jazz Festival of Londrina - July 2002
Summer Festival of the north Littoral 2002 / state of São Paulo
Banco do Brasil Circuito Cultural - 2002 Tour around capitals of Brasil
Caras Award 2002 - Revelation of 2001 - official and popular jury
Yamandú and Os irmãos Flores(Argentina) - "Ares e Pensares" Sesc São Paulo, November, 2002
Midem - 37th International Music Market -
Guitar Festival of Chile ( 2003)
Finland, April Jazz Espoo Festival (2006)
Tokyo concerts (2005, 2006)
Canada, Calgary, with the CALGARY PHILHARMONIC , Conductor: Roberto Minczuk ( Februar 2007)
UK-London - XI Bolivar Hall International Guitar Festival (March 2007)
France, Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées with the Orchestre National de France, Conductor: Kurt Masur (March 2007)
Australia, Melbourne Jazz Festival ( May 2007)
Uruguay, Montevideo, Teatro Solis (May 2007)USA-New York Guitar Festival (Jan. 2008)
Austria, Diersbach / Inntöne Jazzfestival (May 2008)
Spain, Tenerifa / Festival Ten Samba (May 2008)
Austria, Imst/Tschirgart Festival (with Bobby Mc Ferrin) (May 2008)
Spain, Almeria/ Certame Int. de Guitarra Classica " Julián Arcas" (May 2008)
Portugal, Festival Int. de Guitarra Santo Tirso (May 2008)
South Korea / Incheon Jazz Festival (July 2008)
Finnland, Pori Jazz Finland (July 2008)
France, Corsica, Patrimonio Guitar Festival (July 2008)
Italy, Venice /Festival de Jazz de Venezia (July 2008)
Canada, Kelowna /Cedar Creek Winery (August 2008)
Canada, Williams Lake (August 2008)
Canada, Vancouver / Langley / Community Music School (August 2008)
Canada, Vancouver / Festival Vancouver / Christ Church Cathedral (August 2008)
Brazil, São Paulo / with the OSB-Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (premiere of FANTASIA POPULAR with compositions by Yamandu Costa and Paulo Aragão). Conductor: Roberto Minczuk (2008 October 25).
Spain-Tenerifa: Festival La Guitarra La Laguna (2009 February 27)

March 2009:
05 AE- Abu Dhabi / Al Dhafrah Theatre
10 GERMANY / Frankfurt / Brotfabrik
12 BELGIUM / Antwerp / Zuiderpershuis
13 NETHERLANDS / Amsterdam /Tropentheater
14 NETHERLANDS / Rotterdam / de Doelen
15 NETHERLANDS / Utrecht / Rasa
19 BELGIUM / Brussels / Espace Senghor
22 AUSTRIA / Bad Gastein /"Sägewerk" / Snow Jazz Gastein

July 1-2 Latvia-Riga / Rigas Ritmi Festival
july 4 Italy-Bolzano / Jazz Festival Altoadige
july 5 Italy-Tolentino

October 27 France, Paris, with Richard Galliano & Orchestre de Paris at Theatre du Chatelet / Suite pour guitare à 7 cordes et orchestre (composer: Mauricio Carrilho) / Conductor: Kristjan Järvi
November 22 Cagliari Sardegna / european jazz expo
November 24 Portugal, Lisboa / CCB-Centro Cultural de Belém
November 26 Italy, Cervignano del Friuli /Teatro Pasolini
November 28 France, Villeurbanne Guitar Festival
December 03 Italy, Catania / Centro Zoo, Sicily Jazz Fest
December 04 Italy, Sorrento/Festival Divino Vino/Chiesa di San Paolo Sorrento
December 05 Belgium / Bruxelles / Théâtre Molière
Dezember 07 Madrid / Sala Galileo
Dezember 11 Paris/ with the Orchestre National de France, suite FANTASIA POPULAR from Yamandu Costa and Paulo Aragão / Radio France, Direction: Debora Waldman
Dezember 12 Paris (solo concert) Radio France

Website: http://www.yamandu.com.br