Born in 2000, João Pedro Gonçalves started playing the cello at the age of 12 with Ana Cláudia Serrão as his mentor at Orquestra Geração, in Lisbon, continuing later with Marco Pereira and Paulo Gaio Lima. Having completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Jeroen Reuling, he is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the guidance of Gary Hoffman and Jeroen Reuling. Since September 2024, João is a guest teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, working together with Stéphanie Huang.

  In recent years, he has had the opportunity to work with several professors, including Daniel Müller-Schott, Sol Gabetta, Frans Helmerson, Anne Gastinel, Alisa Weilerstein, Jian Wang and Marc Coppey.  He has also had the chance to work with some of the world’s leading conductors, such as Lorenzo Viotti, Gustavo Dudamel and Giancarlo Guerrero. 

  João is a first prize winner of the following competitions: Concurso Capela (2016), Concurso Nacional de Cordas Vasco Barbosa (2017), Prémio Fundação Inatel (2019), Prémio Jovens Músicos (2021), where he received the award Maestro Silva Pereira – Young Musician of the Year 2020/21 and he was a finalist at the Suggia International Award/Casa da Música (2022). In addition to this, João was awarded the Audience’s Prize at the Schiermonnikoog Festival 2024 and the Prix Jean- Nicolas Firmenich at Verbier Festival (2024).

  He has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including Orquestra Gulbenkian, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Young Belgian Strings, Casco Phil, Orquestra Metropolitana, among others.

  João plays on a cello made by Dante Guastalla from 1927, generously loaned by Mr. Philippe Tournay and the Strings for Talent Foundation.