João Carlos Martins is chosen as special guest for inaugural edition of the Worldwide Music Conference

The maestro opens conference on April 22 at 8:00am Eastern Time.

Among the many casualties of the pandemic have been cultural events and among those are a few of a special nature. Pianist and conductor João Carlos Martins had planned to return to Carnegie Hall in 2020, a place where his concerts proved to be milestones throughout the course of his career. His Carnegie Hall debut in 1962 blossomed into worldwide touring of his fresh and invigorating interpretation of J.S. Bach at the piano. His 1978 performance was the first of several comebacks from debilitating physical maladies. Having exhausted options to remain at the keyboard, he turned his musicality toward conducting and returned to Carnegie Hall in 2007 with this new stage of his career, leading the Bachiana Chamber Orchestra. Technology knocked on his door unexpectedly in 2019 when an admirer developed bionic gloves that enabled Martins to play the piano again with both hands, restoring the ability to speak to one of Bach's greatest keyboard interpreters. His 2020 Carnegie Hall concert would celebrate many returns – to the keyboard, to the podium, to Carnegie Hall itself – as well as his 80^th birthday. Out of respect for the time needed to endure the pandemic, this celebratory moment will happen on November 19, 2022 when, Martins hopes, he can gather in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall with a full house whose hearts and minds are free to focus on nothing but music for an evening.

Recognizing how science and technology have benefitted his artistic life, Martins was glad to accept the invitation from the 2021 Worldwide Music Conference to speak at their inaugural edition. In another adjustment to present conditions, the planned in-person event in Prague has been moved online, taking place on April 22 and 23, 2021. Martins is one of the event's special guests, will be joined by the creator of his bionic gloves, designer Ubiratã Bizarro Costa, and will play the piano from his home in Brazil. Even before the gloves entered his life, science and technology touched Martins in significant ways. His first brain surgery in 2012 was performed while he was awake and able to speak with his surgeon. A “cobot” (cooperative robot) was created in 2018 to help him turn the pages of musical scores. His story has inspired both musicians and scientists, showing the bond between the disciplines and making him a logical choice to open the conference.

While the gloves have been of unspeakable importance to him, the maestro remains committed to his campaign for the democratization and popularization of great music. “I still have much to do for music,” he says, “regardless of the movement of my fingers.”

João Carlos Martins and Ubiratã Bizarro Costa speak at the Conference on April 22 at 8:00am Eastern Time.

Conference agenda and registration: https://wwmc.io 

João Carlos Martins at Fundação Bachiana website www.funacaobachiana.org.br

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maestrojoaocarlosmartins/

On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maestrajoaocarlosmartins

Contact: Michael Grofsorean, michael@musicacodetta.com, 1.734.660.4559