ADOLFO MENDONÇA
Music educator and pianist
Master's degree from the University of South Florida.
Awarded by Downbeat Magazine (USA) and the Guiomar Novaes Competition (Brazil)
Former professor at the University of Minnesota (USA), American University in Cairo (Egypt), and Knox College (USA).
CONTACT FOR PIANO LESSONS:
adolfomendonca@hotmail.com
Learn piano and start understanding music for real with a award-winner instructor that has more than 25 years of experience, international background and hundreds of accomplished students.
You will choose what you want to learn: jazz, pop piano, improvisation, arranging, classical piano, music theory, pop/rock, etc. No matter if this is a hobby or a profession for you, you will understand what you are doing, you will improve your creativity, and you will get autonomy and be each time less dependent on your instructor.
Adolfo Mendonça has taught more than 300 students and held appointments as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota (Morris, MN, US), Assistant Professor of Music at the American University in Cairo (Egypt), Music Adjunct at Knox College (Galesburg, IL, US) and Conservatório Municipal de Guarulhos (Sao Paulo, Brazil). He also received numerous invitations for teaching masterclasses in several universities and conservatories in the US and other countries, in addition to presenting research in several music education and jazz conferences. He holds an extensive experience as an educator and an active career as a performer with concerts in several states in the US, in addition to Brazil, France, Chile, Mexico, and Egypt. Adolfo also performed/recorded with award winner musicians such as Randy Brecker, Romero Lubambo, Clarice Assad, Remy le Boeuf, Jose Valentino, Tammy Scheffer, and several others.
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"The sprightly touch of the keyboardist evokes Chick Corea at his most lyrical."
JAZZIZ Magazine, Winter 2023, USA
“Adolfo Mendonça has created a beautiful Brazilian recording: ‘Brazilian Childhood’, full of fantastic compositions and standards. I was happy about participating in the track ‘Ponta Da Praia’, which I am very proud of...”
Randy Brecker, October 2023, USA
“A keyboardist and composer that really deserves to be discovered.”
Scott Yanow, jazz journalist, September 2023, USA
2026
May 16h - Solo Piano
Fundação Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Itabira, MG, Brazil
May 15th - Adolfo Mendonça Trio
Conservatório Estadual de São João del-Rei
São João del-Rei, MG, Brazil
February 5th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
American University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
January 23rd - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
JazzB
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
January 21st - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Blacaman Jazz Club
Campinas, SP, Brazil
January 17th - Adolfo Mendonca (solo piano recital)
Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixo
Santo, SP, Brazil
2025
December 14th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Cairo Jazz Club
Cairo, Egypt
August 15th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Elegia Jazz Club
Goiania, GO, Brazil
August 14th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Universidade Federal de Goias
Goiania, GO, Brazil
August 13th - Guest Lecture
Universidade Federal de Goias
Goiania, GO, Brazil
August 9th - Adolfo Mendonca Quartet feat. Gustavo San Martin (Chile)
Mostra Jazz Campinas
Campinas, SP, Brazil
August 8th - Adolfo Mendonca Quartet feat. Gustavo San Martin (Chile)
JazzB
São Paulo SP, Brazil
May 16th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Clube de Jazz
Santiago, Chile
May 15th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio
Thelonious Lugar de Jazz
Santiago, Chile
May 14th - Guest Lecture
Universidade del Chile
Santiago, Chile
April 18th - Adolfo Mendonça Trio
Jazz Central Studios
Minneapolis, MN
April 3rd, 4th - Romero Lubambo, Clarice Assad, Matt Patnode, Adolfo Mendonça and guests
University of Minnesota Morris Jazz Festival
Morris, MN
Mar 29th - Adolfo Mendonça Trio
The Trio
Sioux Falls, SD
Mar 28th - Adolfo Mendonça Trio
Madison
Wisconsin, WI
Feb 20th - UMN Morris Jazz Combo feat Adolfo Mendonca
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND
Jan 11th - Adolfo Mendonca Trio Concert at the Jazz Education Network Conference
Atlanta, GA