Acclaimed by international critics as “one of the greatest guitarists of his generation,” Paulo Martelli holds a singular place in the landscape of contemporary classical music. His artistry transcends technical virtuosity: it is the rare fusion of interpretive depth, stylistic rigor, and poetic sensitivity. In Brazil, he stands at the forefront of a true renewal of the classical guitar scene; abroad, he has established himself as an indispensable reference for the instrument.

From London to Tokyo, his discography has received unanimous praise: “perfection” (Classical Guitar Magazine, United Kingdom), “solid and brilliant technique” (Soundboard Magazine, USA), and “impeccable musicianship” (Gendai Magazine, Japan). These adjectives describe not only the performer, but the experience his music evokes: an intense dialogue between tradition and modernity.

His academic background is equally remarkable. He holds a Doctorate in Music from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). He earned a Master’s degree from the legendary Juilliard School of Music and completed Professional Studies at the Manhattan School of Music, both in New York City. Author of major reference works — Bach and Musical Rhetoric, Geraldo Vespar – Three Popular Studies for Guitar and Cello, and Geraldo Vespar: 20 Brazilian Popular Studies for Guitar — Martelli moves effortlessly between scholarly research and artistic expression.

Among the many distinctions he has received, the Profissionais da Música Award (PPM) stands out, in the category of “Classical Instrumentalist,” earned through recordings that have become milestones in the repertoire: Unpublished Transcriptions for the Baroque Guitar, A Bach Recital, and Geraldo Vespar: 20 Popular Brazilian Studies. His most recent album, Dedicatória, brings together previously unreleased works composed especially for him by leading Brazilian masters, and has been widely celebrated by both national and international critics.

His contribution to music education was recognized by Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, which awarded him the prestigious “Bolsa Virtuose” grant for research on tablature notation systems at the Manhattan School of Music. At that institution, he also received the coveted “Andrés Segovia” Prize, an honor reserved for only a select few in the guitar world.

As a producer, Martelli is the creator and curator of Movimento Violão, an international concert series that for more than two decades has brought the world’s greatest guitarists to Brazil. The project gave rise to the television program of the same name on SescTV, becoming the largest audiovisual archive ever produced about the classical guitar, with nearly 100 episodes. Under his direction, Movimento Violão has generated DVDs, CDs, and a monumental 10-DVD box set released by the SESC label, as well as unforgettable performances, including its debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., broadcast worldwide.

His career includes world premieres such as Fantasia Concertante for Two Guitars and Orchestra – Amazon Legends, alongside Marco Pereira, and historic recordings, including a special dedicated to Villa-Lobos featuring the Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra. In the field of the eleven-string guitar (alto guitar), he is recognized as one of today’s leading exponents, with J. S. Bach arrangements hailed as “extraordinary” and “miraculous.”

An outstanding educator, Martelli has trained generations of musicians who now hold prominent positions on international stages. He currently teaches at the Magda Tagliaferro Foundation and in the Graduate Guitar Program at Santa Marcelina College, and has also served as professor at UNESP and the University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP).

Paulo Martelli does not merely perform music: he builds bridges between eras, geographies, and languages, reaffirming with every note the guitar’s place as an instrument of infinite expressiveness and cultural relevance.

https://www.paulomartelli.com.br/