Biography
Tiago Almeida (born 1996, Geneva) is a Swiss-Portuguese guitarist based in Zurich, Geneva, and Viseu. His latest project recently earned a special mention from the Zurich University of the Arts (Switzerland) for its creativity and innovative approach. This recognition has led to collaborations with international artists from the USA, Colombia, Portugal, France, and Germany, as well as attention from publications like *EGTA*, which featured an article on his chamber music for classical guitar.
In recent years, Tiago has been an active participant in festivals and workshops, including the GuitarArt Festival (Belgrade, Serbia) and Javeriana University (Bogotá, Colombia), where he showcased his work. His projects have been praised by renowned guitarists such as Elodie Bouny, Pavel Steidl, and Julio Azcano, who have described his approach as "new and promising" for the instrument.
Tiago’s musical journey began at age 7 under the guidance of his first teacher, Pierre-Alain Magni, in Geneva. He quickly developed a passion for composition and arrangement. His dedication was recognized in 2015 when he became the first guitarist to win first prize at the “Collège de Genève.” This achievement led to his admission to the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne (Switzerland), where he studied with Brazilian guitarist Dagoberto Linhares.
In addition to his solo work, Tiago was a key member of the post-rock band *Among the Limbs*, where he contributed as a composer, arranger, and guitarist. The band performed across Europe, including a standout performance at the Antigel Festival (Switzerland).
In 2019, Tiago continued his studies at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (Switzerland), under the mentorship of Anders Miolin and Vojin Kocic. He completed two master’s degrees — one in Music Education and the other in Performance.
Now, as a Swiss-Portuguese guitarist, Tiago seeks to explore lesser-known musical styles within the classical guitar repertoire. His current project, blending fado with classical guitar, reflects his cultural identity and addresses contemporary issues like migration. He is also a member of the jazz-classical guitar trio *Trio Camaïeu*, with whom he has toured Europe and South America, as well as the guitar-cello-clarinet group *Three Leaves Left*.
In addition to performing, Tiago is a passionate teacher, currently instructing at the conservatories of Baden and Brugg (Switzerland).
Chamber music projects
Trio Camaïeu
Trio Camaïeu is an atypical classical guitar trio made up of three musicians: Tiago Almeida, Nicolas Urrego and Raphaël Duchosal Binaz. Hailing from all over the world, from Colombia to France and Portugal, these three young musicians, who are studying together at the Zurich University of the Arts, compose, arrange and share the music they love. They break with the codes of classical guitar by offering a varied programme based on their three musical cultures. From trio pieces to solo repertoire, they are also interested in the form of the concert: they tell a story, a journey, all guided by the gentle sound of their guitars.
Three Leaves Left
These three musicians met as university students in 2017. They are a French, German, Portuguese, Swiss and American band based in Switzerland. This unique trio has developed a love for classical crossover and enjoys fusing classical and contemporary classical techniques with a more alternative framework. They do this by arranging pre-existing music (e.g. Radiohead or Bon Iver) and adapting it to their ensemble, as well as creating original music.
Pictures
