Rafael

Certified Tutor

I am an accomplished Philadelphia-based musician, originally from Salvador, in The State of Bahia, Brazil.I promote cultural understanding and combat racism through music. Early recognition began in 1999, when i participated in the Bahian Music Festival by University of Vitria da Conquista. There me and The Curupira band won the blessing of Waly Salomo, one of the greatest "Tropicalia" poets.This led to my music being placed in the hall of the greats "novissimos baianos." Waly traveled with the young me to So Paulo to record the program "Msica brasileira" in the studios of Trama, with Joo Marcelo Bscoli, the son of the legendary Elis Regina.



I recorded six albums, and have toured Europe and Latin America, and played in The Weltkulture festival in Germany in 2010, among other important european festivals .In 2016, I was elected as "Brazilian cultural ambassador" for the program "Partners of America" (Founded in 1964 by JFK) from the American department of State. After being coming to USA since 2014 with grants from Bahia government and Brazilfederal government, i am living now between Brazil and the city of Philadelphia. My workshops,lessons and speeches share Brazilian culture and focus on building cultural understanding and overcoming racism through music and the arts.