BMF School of Music (BMFSOM)

“The Next Generation of Brazilian Pianists”

2024 Advanced Piano and Master Classes Program 

Awarded Students

 

The Ugo Barros Memorial Scholarship
Mateus Naamã Bezerra Duarte, piano
Born in Natal, Brazil, Naamã is one of the most promising talents to emerge from the country in recent years. At just 19 years old, he began playing the piano at 14 and quickly demonstrated exceptional skill. His rapid progress caught the attention of Fábio Zanon, the artistic director of  Campos do Jordão Festival, who invited him to join a select group of pianists at the festival. There, Naamã  was nominated for the Eleazar de Carvalho Prize, the festival’s highest honor.
In 2022, Naamã won first prize at the Mansueto Barbosa Piano Competition in Fortaleza. After joining the “Next Generation of Brazilian Pianists” program, he went on to secure first prize at the prestigious Edna Bassetti Piano Competition (2023), along with awards for “Best Classical Sonata” and “Best Performance of a Work by Brazilian Composer Edino Krieger.”
Naamã  is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), studying under Durval Cesetti. He is also living in Helsinki as part of an exchange program at the Sibelius Academy. Throughout his career, Mateus has participated in masterclasses with renowned Brazilian pianists such as Amaral Vieira, Cristian Budu, Sylvia Thereza, and Eduardo Monteiro. Since 2023, he has been studying with pianist Max Barros.

The Janice Gewirtz Memorial Scholarship
João Pedro Sigoli, piano
Born in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Sigoli is a rising star among Brazil’s young pianists. At just 21 years old, he has already distinguished himself in national and international piano competitions, earning accolades such as 3rd place at the Almeida Prado Piano Festival (2020), 2nd place in his category at the ‘Cora Pavan Caparelli’ Piano Competition (2021), and a 2nd place with a special award for his interpretation of Almeida Prado at the II Online Meeting of Pianists ‘Crescendo’ (2021) in Portugal.
Since being selected for the “Next Generation of Brazilian Pianists” program by BMF, Sigoli’s exceptional talent has been further recognized with the “Outstanding Student” award at the Eleazar de Carvalho Festival in 2023, followed by a 2nd prize at the I Toriba Musical Competition in 2024.
Sigoli began his piano studies at the age of 10, studied at EMESP with Karin Fernandes and he is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music (Piano) at UNESP, Brazil, under the mentorship of Professor Dr. Danieli Longo Benedetti.
Since 2022, he has been a pianist with the São Paulo State Youth Orchestra (OJESP) and has also refined his craft through masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Marc-André Hamelin, Paul Rutman, Araceli Chacon, Flávio Varani, and Max Barros, with whom he has been studying since 2023 as part of the BMF School of Music’s “Next Generation of Brazilian Pianists” program.

Daniel Rocha, piano
Born in Parobé, Rio Grande do Sul, and raised in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Daniel Silva began his piano studies at the age of 5 under the guidance of Professor Helcio Baroni, with whom he studied for seven years. In 2023, he moved to São Paulo to join the EMESP (School of Music of the State of São Paulo), where he started studying with Professor Luiz Guilherme Pozzi. Since then, he has distinguished himself as a collaborative pianist, working with choirs and renowned musicians in the city of São Paulo. In July 2024, Daniel was selected as a scholarship recipient for the “Next Generation of Brazilian Pianists” program by the BMF.
His performance and dedication caught the attention of BMF’s board, securing his place in this important project. Daniel has won several major awards in national and international competitions, including 1st place at the 15th edition of the Antônio DeLorenzo Piano Competition, 2nd place at the Latin American Piano Competition in Curitiba, 3rd place at the Souza Lima Piano Competition, and an honorable mention at the Edna Bassetti Habith Piano Competition in Curitiba.
  He has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Alexander Kobrin, Paul Lewis, David Korevaar, Aristo Sham, Eduardo Monteiro, Luciana Sayure, Cristian Budu, and Richard Kogima, and continues to refine his artistry while evolving in his journey as a pianist.