Gabriel DUARTE - Brazilian Composer and Arranger

Gabriel DUARTE

Brazilian Composer

Arranger

Gabriel Duarte (1996), based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, is one of the most prolific young Brazilian composers of his generation. He considers himself a “cosmopolitan,” not setting boundaries between musical styles, and demonstrates a diversity and compositional versatility that spans contemporary, classical, and popular music. As a composer, Mr. Duarte believes that his work reflects this intersection, particularly through a strong emphasis on rhythmic elements.

He is currently pursuing a Master of Music (MM) degree in Composition at the University of Alabama, USA. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with an emphasis on Composition from the Department of Music at the University of São Paulo (ECA-USP) and a specialization in Composition from the São Paulo State Music School (EMESP Tom Jobim).

His main professors were Silvio Ferraz, Rodrigo Lima, Ronaldo Miranda, Tyler Bradley Walkeri. He also complemented his studies by taking lessons and masterclasses with Maestro Branco, Júlio César Figueiredo, Carlos Iafelice, Tiago Costa, Rodrigo Morte, André Ribeiro, Valéria Bonafé, Luca Raele, Amir Zaheri, Ivan Moody, Christopher Bochmann, Laurie San Martin, Mark Hayes, Bob Mintzer, Dave Panichi, John Fedchock, and Geoff Stradling.

As a musician and researcher, his work spans various fields of musical composition, with a primary focus on compositional techniques and mechanisms in 20th- and 21st-century contemporary music, as well as music theory and analysis. He was awarded a PIBIC-CNPq scholarship during the periods of 2018/2019, conducting research on compositional processes in the works of American composer Charles Ives, and 2020/2021, focusing on compositional processes in the works of Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino. Additionally, he is a scholarship recipient at the Moody School of Music – University of Alabama, USA (2024–2026), where he extensively serves as a graduate teaching assistant for theory and composition courses and develops research on birdsongs and rhythmic structures.

His compositions and arrangements have been performed by many groups such as: SFCMP - San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (USA), Hub New Music Ensemble (USA), Orquestra Brasil Jazz Sinfônica (BRA), Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras (POR), UA Jazz Ensemble (USA), UA Contemporary Music Ensemble (USA), Quinteto Novos Ventos (BRA), Pure Winds Quintet (BRA), Quinteto Sujeito a Guincho (BRA), Quarteto Aurora (BRA), Cia SAX (BRA), UNESP Flute Ensemble (BRA), among others.

Gabriel’s work stands out for its strong collaboration with high-level performers. In 2019, he received a commission from Daniel Alfaro to compose br[asas] N.3, which had its world premiere in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2020, he received a commission from George Ferreira to compose br[asas] N.5 for solo vibraphone. In 2024, as the winner of the Call for Scores promoted by the University of Alabama, he composed Pássaro de Vidro for solo piano. In 2025, he received a commission from pianist Karin Fernandes to compose a new work for the recital Musique pour retarder la fin du temps, presented in Mundolsheim and Paris, France, with the support of FUNARTE - Fundação Nacional das Artes, Brazil.

Has been continuously awarded and participated in symposiums, composition competitions, conferences, and national and international music festivals, presenting his academic and artistic works in countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, United States, France and Ecuador. Highlights include:

Composition Competitions and Call for Scores:

Finalist composer (2nd round) at the ARTZenter Institute Emerging Composer Competitions Grants (California, USA, 2025), selected to compose a composition for chamber orchestra to be performed by the renowned ensemble of contemporary music "SFCMP - San Francisco Contemporary Music Players".
Award-winning composer (2nd round) at the ARTZenter Institute Emerging Composer Competitions Grants (California, USA, 2024), selected to compose a composition for chamber orchestra to be performed by the renowned ensemble of contemporary music "SFCMP - San Francisco Contemporary Music Players".
Call for Scores Pure Winds Quintet - 3rd Prize (Michigan, USA, 2021).
II Composition Competition Eduardo Álvares at EMESP Tom Jobim (São Paulo, Brazil, 2018);
4th Composition Competition of Academia de Flautas de Verão (Porto, Portugal, 2017), first prize - ESMAE - Escola de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Instituto Politécnico do Porto;

Music Festivals, Conferences, Symposiums and Colloquiums:

MUSLAB 2025 – Electroacustic Music International Exhibition | MANTRA - The Art of Healing, Quito, Ecuador, 2025.
ESTARREJAZZ Festival 2025 – Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras with trumpet soloist Gileno Santana (Estarreja, Portugal, 2025)
ICEBERG New Music Institute 2025 - University of Central Florida, Orlando (USA - 2025);
8th Annual Research on Contemporary Composition Conference - University of North Georgia (USA - 2024);
27th SIICUSP - International Symposium of Scientific Initiation of the University of São Paulo (USP - 2019)
VII ECI - Encuentro de Compositores y Intérpretes - Faculdad de Bellas Artes - Universidad Nacional de La Plata - Argentina (2019);
III, IV, and V Simpósio Villa-Lobos (ECA-USP - 2017-18-19);
4Eitam - International Meeting on Music Theory and Analysis (ECA - USP - 2017);
I Atemporanea Festival: International Festival of Contemporary Music (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2019).
25th, 26th, and 27th Mostra Nascente de Música Erudita (USP) - Finalist and Honorable Mention (2017-18-19);

He worked as a Music Intern at CEDOC - Centro de Documentação da TV Cultura, Also, interned at Rádio Cultura Brasil during the 2021 season of the “Programa do Estudante,” directed by Eduardo Weber. He worked as Music Librarian at the SMC - Santa Marcelina Cultura, managing Theatro São Pedro, EMESP Tom Jobim, and Guri Santa Marcelina (Capital, Interior and Fundação Casa) from 2022 to 2024.

Gabriel is member of ASMAC - American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers and ISCM - International Society of Contemporary Music.

His work as a composer is published by Scherzo Editions, based in Lisbon, Portugal. https://www.scherzoeditions.com/composers/gabriel-duarte/

CV Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/1082212189542191

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