João Guilherme Ripper

Who is João Guilherme Ripper?

João Guilherme Ripper is a Brazilian composer and conductor.

Ripper studied composition at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. His compositions include art songs and many works for piano. João Guilherme Ripper was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He studied Composition and Conducting with Maestro Henrique Morelenbaum, Dr. Ronaldo Miranda and Maestro Roberto Duarte at the School of Music of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he also got his Master Degree in Composition. In 1994, he moved to the US to pursue his doctoral studies under composer and violinist Dr. Helmut Braunlich and musicologist Dr. Emma Garmendia at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. Additional studies in orchestral conducting were held in Argentina at the Cuyo University and Colón Theater, under Maestro Guillermo Scarabino.

While in the Washington area, João Guilherme Ripper helped to create a comprehensive music course for non-professionals at the Adult Education Program of the Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland. He organized the curriculum together with the Program Coordinator, Ms. Martha Price, and taught classes in music theory, harmony, choral singing, orchestration and composition. Additionally, he connected the composition and orchestration classes to the Montgomery County Community Orchestra. During the two years he taught these classes, the Adult Education Music Program in Montgomery County became a respected venue for amateurs to develop their musicianship through composition and performance. Preceding his return to Brazil in 1997, he founded with his composition students the Composers Society of Montgomery County with the dual goal of performing new music and creating bonds with the community. The CSMC is currently a non-profit organization with approximately 30 members. With the assistance of the Maryland Endowment for the Arts, the CSMC sponsors courses on subjects related to composition and organize recitals with works written by its members.