Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Odair Assad is a Brazilian classical guitarist and composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on August 26, 1956, in São João da Boa Vista, Brazil, Odair was the youngest of seven children in a musical family. His father, Jorge Assad, was a mandolin player, and his mother, Angelina Assad, was a singer. Odair's older brother, Sérgio Assad, was also a guitarist, and the two brothers would later form the Assad Brothers guitar duo. Odair began playing the guitar at the age of six, and by the time he was eight, he was already performing in public. He received his formal music education at the Conservatório Dramático e Musical de São Paulo, where he studied with the renowned Brazilian guitarist, Monina Távora. Odair's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly gained recognition as a virtuoso guitarist. In 1969, Odair and his brother Sérgio formed the Assad Brothers guitar duo, which would become one of the most celebrated guitar duos in the world. The duo's unique sound, which blended classical, jazz, and Brazilian music, quickly gained them a following, and they began performing in concerts and festivals around the world. In 1979, the Assad Brothers won the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York City, which launched their international career. They went on to perform in some of the world's most renowned concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. Odair has also collaborated with many other musicians and composers throughout his career. He has performed with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Paquito D'Rivera, and has worked with composers such as Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass. In addition to his performing career, Odair is also a prolific composer. He has written music for solo guitar, guitar duos, and chamber ensembles, and his compositions have been performed by many other musicians around the world. Odair has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1998, he was awarded the Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album for his recording of the Villa-Lobos Guitar Concertos with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. He has also been awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the Brazilian government, and the Medal of Honor by the city of São Paulo. Odair continues to perform and record with his brother Sérgio, and the Assad Brothers guitar duo remains one of the most celebrated guitar duos in the world. Their unique sound and virtuosic playing have earned them a devoted following, and they continue to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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