CREATIVE PRACTICE
Brazilian composer, arranger, conductor, music director, and producer Rafael Piccolotto de Lima develops artistic projects connecting Brazilian music, orchestral writing, improvisation, chamber music, large ensembles, recording production, and interdisciplinary artistic creation.
His work moves across composition, arrangement, music direction, artistic production, research, recording projects, educational initiatives, and collaborative projects developed throughout the Americas and Europe.
Rather than existing as isolated activities, these areas form an interconnected creative practice where composition, performance, production, research, and collaboration continuously inform one another.
The sections below provide an overview of the principal areas of Rafael’s work.
CORE AREAS OF PRACTICE
COMPOSITION & ARRANGEMENT
Composition and arrangement form the foundation of Rafael Piccolotto de Lima’s artistic work.
His projects move between orchestral music, Brazilian music, jazz, chamber music, improvisation, and contemporary concert practices, exploring how different musical languages can interact through original compositions, arrangements, commissions, and collaborative creative processes.
→ Explore Composition & Arrangement
​
→ Film Scoring & Music for Media
MUSIC DIRECTION & CONDUCTING
As conductor and music director, Rafael develops projects involving orchestras, jazz orchestras, chamber ensembles, recording productions, festivals, guest artists, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
His work focuses on the relationship between orchestration, ensemble leadership, improvisation, rehearsal process, artistic coordination, and contemporary performance environments.
ORCHESTRAS & BIG BANDS
Large ensembles occupy a central place in Rafael’s artistic practice.
His work includes compositions, arrangements, and collaborations developed for symphony orchestras, jazz orchestras, big bands, chamber orchestras, studio orchestras, and hybrid ensemble formats connecting Brazilian music, improvisation, and contemporary orchestral writing.
ARTISTIC PROJECTS
Alongside commissions and collaborations, Rafael develops long-term artistic projects that function as creative laboratories for composition, performance, orchestration, improvisation, recording production, and interdisciplinary artistic exploration.
These projects include large ensembles, chamber groups, and contemporary Brazilian instrumental music initiatives developed across Brazil, the United States, and Canada.
ARTISTIC PRODUCTION
Beyond composition and performance, Rafael is actively involved in the realization of artistic projects through recording production, audiovisual creation, concert production, documentation, and creative project development.
This work connects artistic vision with the practical processes required to bring projects from conception to public presentation.
RESEARCH & ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
Research has played an important role throughout Rafael’s artistic trajectory.
His work draws from academic research, artistic experimentation, Brazilian musical traditions, improvisation, orchestral practices, and contemporary compositional approaches, creating ongoing dialogue between creative practice and critical reflection.
SELECTED ARTISTIC PROJECTS
ORQUESTRA URBANA
A contemporary Brazilian jazz orchestra and large ensemble founded in São Paulo in 2014, dedicated to original compositions, orchestral collaboration, and contemporary Brazilian large ensemble music.
FORRÓ SEM PALAVRAS
An instrumental and orchestral project exploring forró through chamber music, improvisation, and contemporary Brazilian ensemble writing.
RAFAEL PICCOLOTTO DE LIMA CHAMBER PROJECT
A chamber ensemble platform developed in New York exploring the intersection between Brazilian music, improvisation, chamber music, and contemporary ensemble writing.
​
COMMISSIONS, COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
Rafael’s work includes collaborations with orchestras, jazz orchestras, universities, festivals, cultural institutions, recording productions, guest artists, and interdisciplinary artistic organizations across Brazil, the United States, Canada, Europe, Costa Rica, and Cuba.
These collaborations range from commissioned compositions and orchestral arrangements to recording productions, educational initiatives, festivals, artistic residencies, and large-scale concert productions.
​
​
→ Film Scoring & Music for Media