Joao Kouyoumdjian

Since winning the XXI Souza Lima National Guitar Competition in São Paulo, Brazil in 2010, Kouyoumdjian has been building a steady international performance career that has spanned the United States, Brazil, Europe and Africa. Among his concert engagements, noted stops have included Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Museum. He has also performed as a guest soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Yerevan, Armenia.

A native of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, João Kouyoumdjian has been featured on numerous nationally televised concert series in his homeland, including the acclaimed Movimento Violão. In 2011, he premiered new works by Brazilian composers Ricardo Calderoni and Raimundo Penaforte at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall at the behest of the Consulate General of Brazil in New York in a program entitled, “Brazilian Guitar: Tradition and Tendencies”. Additionally, João’s interest and dedication towards teaching was highlighted in the press recently with his interactive performance/on-stage teaching model called “Guitar Horizons”, which focused on educating youth in underdeveloped areas of São Paulo, Brazil.

João Kouyoumdjian currently resides in the Greater New York City area where he enjoys an active performance, teaching and recording schedule. He is currently artist in residence at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey.