Praised by the German newspaper Badische Zeitung for his sound that "impresses with delicacy and lightness", Brazilian clarinetist Dr. Iura de Rezende has established himself as a distinguished performer and educator on the international stage. His artistry has
been showcased at prestigious universities throughout the Americas and Europe, as well as renowned venues including Zurich's Tonhalle, Basel's Stadt Casino, and Rio de Janeiro's Sala Cecília Meireles, among others.
As a soloist, de Rezende has performed with eminent ensembles such as the Basel Symphony Orchestra, Neues Orchester Basel, and the University of Illinois Wind Symphony. His festival appearances span continents, with performances at Switzerland's Ticino Musica and Le Jardin des Musiques, Brazil's Festival de Maio, Slovenia's Festival Glasbena fabr'ka, Colombia's Festival Nacional Alonso Marín, and Bolivia's Encuentro de Clarinetistas in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with leading performers across Europe and the Americas. Notable partnerships include performances with his wife, pianist Elisa Galeano; acclaimed Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses; and Boris Lifanovsky, principal cellist of the Bolshoi Ballet. His dedication to contemporary music has led to collaborations with composers such as George Rochberg (Contra Mortem et Tempus for the Paul Sacher Foundation) and Gualtiero Dazzi across France and Switzerland. As a member of the OFICINA MUSICA VIVA New Music Ensemble, he has participated in televised performances of seminal works by Messiaen, Berio, and Penderecki.
Beyond the concert stage, de Rezende has made significant contributions to music education. With over fifteen years as a professor in Brazil, he has given masterclasses at institutions throughout the Americas and Europe. His scholarly work—including research on Thea Musgrave's Narcissus, presented at ANPPOM and the Web Audio Conference 2021 in Barcelona—reflects his deep engagement with clarinet repertoire and performance practice. He has further shared his expertise through editorial work for Brazil's leading clarinet publication.
Dr. de Rezende's academic background includes a Bachelor's degree from UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) in Belo Horizonte and a dual Master's degree from Basel's Academy of Music in Performance (Soloist Diploma, 2004) and Clarinet Pedagogy. As a Fulbright Scholar, he earned his Doctorate at Indiana University Bloomington, specializing in Clarinet Performance, Music History, and Early Music. His artistic achievements were recognized in 2020 with the prestigious FUNARTE (Brazilian Federal Foundation for the Arts) "RespirArte" prize for his interpretation of Brahms' Clarinet Quintet, and in 2023 with a nomination for the Arnold O. Beckman Award from the University of Illinois Research Board.
From 2022 to 2025, Dr. de Rezende served as Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shaping the next generation of musicians while maintaining an active performance schedule. In 2025, he plans to return to Brazil to further his artistic and academic career and be closer to his family. Iura de Rezende is a proud Vandoren and Buffet Crampon Artist.