Biography
Caio de Souza is one of the most distinguished viola caipira (10-string guitar) players of his generation, with a unique musical approach that combines his influences from Brazilian traditional music, classical music and world music. His most recent projects include a residency with OneBeat, produced by Bang on a Can’s Found Sound Nation, and a series of three visual albums, No Pinicado da Viola, evoking the instrument’s musical origins.
Caio has toured internationally (Germany and France) with his former group Sexteto Clariô, and has performed in several cities in Brazil with distinguished artists such as Mestre Bule Bule (Bahia), Juraildes da Cruz (Goias), the country duo Zé Mulato and Cassiano (Brasilia), and Rubinho do Vale (Minas Gerais), among many others. He made his debut as a soloist with the University of São Paulo Philarmonic Orchestra in cities across the state of São Paulo. Caio has released three albums: Urutu with Leticial Leal (viola caipira), Espalha Brasa - Zequinha de Abreu on Viola Caipira (Caio de Souza Quartet), and Onde Está o Jeca? (Soprano a Viola), and one EP: Foi Ontem, Será Amanhã with Arthur Boscato (7 strings guitar).
He has played, given workshops, and lectures at different American universities: Florida State University (Tallahassee), University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis), Indiana University (Bloomington), and University of Colorado (Boulder). He has also played in the concert series of Indianapolis Classical Guitar Society and Knoxville Classical Guitar Society. Caio's future engagements will include a workshop for Silkroad Global Musicians Workshop in December 2023 and an artist residency in April 2024 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaing.
Caio de Souza holds a bachelor degree in viola caipira performance from the University of São Paulo and started his M.A. in ethnomusicology at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.