Performing mostly original music but inspired by choro and samba, 7-string guitarist Igor Souza and 10-string mandolinist Ian Coury have played with Brazil’s biggest names such as Caetano Veloso and Xande de Pilares. They are two of the most dynamic virtuosos of the new generation of Brazilian musicians. Recently part of a select few who were invited to participate in the Rhode Island URI Guitar and Mandolin Festival, Ian Coury is redefining choro and instrumental music. By age 12, Coury had shared the stage with Brazilian choro legends like Armandinho and Hamilton de Holanda. Now 23, he is recognized as one of Brazil’s top 10-string mandolin virtuosos, expanding the instrument’s expressive range. Ian has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, and Toninho Horta, earning awards such as “Best Instrumentalist” at the National FM Radio Festival (2020). A Brasília native, he studied at Berklee College of Music on full scholarship, receiving the String Department Award and completing a master’s at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. At 24, Igor Souza is a talented musician, arranger, producer, and educator from Rio de Janeiro. He began playing at 6 and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from UNIRIO. Known as the “7-String Guitar Phenomenon of Brazil,” Igor has taught over 900 students and performed in five European countries and across Brazil. He has toured with Xande de Pilares, performed in Rio’s Carnival with top samba schools since 2016, and worked with Grammy-winning artist Esperanza Spalding. Novos Caminhos is more than a show – it’s an artistic manifesto celebrating the continuity and evolution of Brazil’s rich musical heritage, inviting listeners on a journey through roots and possibilities that bridge generations and cultures. They’ll be joined by a percussionist and their performances aim to deliver a live experience that is deeply Brazilian yet open to the world, captivating diverse audiences from traditional fans to those eager for new sounds.
