About meThis is my story
José André says: “Life is a gift”. He discovered his piano skills in a self-taught way at the age of four, since then he has been fascinated with music. He is a musician who flavors his tunes with Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies. Despite his young age he has already delighted audiences from prestigious festivals and concert halls across the Americas.
He was only 6 years old when he formed and led his first Latin Jazz band. Treasured by music fans of all styles he was invited to share stage with internationally prominent musicians.
In 2015, he performed at the stage of the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., for the Iberian Suite Global Arts Remix, which was followed by a performance at the headquarters of the World Bank. Later that year he was invited back to perform in honor to Pope Francis.
José André has performed internationally with live presentations that have received standing ovations in Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Finland, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Colombia. He also performed at the DC Jazz Festival, Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, International Jazz Day, and other venues. He has shared stage with Marcus Miller, Jason Moran and Renee Fleming, and other renowned musicians. His talent has led him to be on the list for the piano chair in several big bands.
He has been invited to performed for different organizations including the World Bank, the Central Bank of Malaysia, the Washington Performing Arts, Envision, the Inter- American Development Bank, the Organization of the American States, the Pan American Health Orga
nization,Kids in Need of Defense, the Library of Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. House of Representatives – Office of the Clerk and others.
He has been part of different programs including the National Peer- to- Peer and the Vail Jazz Workshop. a program that selects twelve talented young musicians across the United States to be part of an ensemble that plays at the Vail Jazz Festival.
Being part of the NYO Jazz Orchestra and after performing at the Carnegie Hall, he went on a tour to six different countries in Europe, playing at the St. Moritz Festival da Jazz, the Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms, Rheingau Festival, Young Euro Classic, and Lucerne Festival.
José André was invited by President Biden to performer at the White House to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and has also performed at the NPR Jazz Piano Christmas Series.
Each year outstanding young musicians with disabilities from around the world receive the VSA International Young Soloist Award. In 2019 José André was one of the recipients and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as an emerging artist.
During the 2nd Annual Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind “Lighting the Way” Gala; José André was presented with the Visionary Award recognizing the achievements of his talented as a person with vision loss.
As part of the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary, José André was selected as one of The Kennedy Center’s Next 50 leaders that through his art is always transmitting love and passion, moving towards an inspired, inclusive, and compassionate world: lighting the way forward.
However accomplished, for José André the adventure of music creation has only just begun.