Rabeca (fiddle)/Cavaquinho/Percussion

Jéssica Carvalho recently finished her Bachelor of Music Education degree at Faculdade Claretiano after achieving a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Brasília in 2017. She discovered her passion for music in 2016, after moving to Germany for an exchange program and has since then dedicated herself exclusively to music. She teaches pandeiro (Brazilian Tambourine) at the Escola de Choro Raphael Rabello and continues her studies of Popular Percussion Technical Course at the Escola de Música de Brasília. Jessica also has a great affection for the ‘rabeca’ (fiddle) and cavaquinho.

A young performer in high demand, she is a member of many ensembles in Brazil including As Fulô do Cerrado (@asfulodocerrado), Choro Delas (@chorodelas), Choro Prosa (@choroprosa), Orquestra Pizindim (@orquestrapizindim), and Orquestra de rabecas do Cerrado (@orquestraderabecasdocerrado).

Her first contact with Brazilian Popular Music took place through experiences with Mestre Zé do Pife (Master Joe te Piper), with whom she learned to play the basic forró instruments, such as the pífano (bamboo pipe), zabumba (standing bass drum), triangle, agogô, ganzá as well as the rabeca.

While Jéssica was a member of Comboio Percussivo, the group was awarded at the Festival Universitário de Música Candanga (FINCA), 1st place in the Popular Jury, and 3rd place in the Technical Jury.