Bio

Késia Decoté is a pianist from Vitoria, Brazil. She holds a PhD (CNPq scholarship) and MA (Distinction, Santander scholarship) in Contemporary Arts and Music from Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, UK), Master Degree (CAPES scholarship) and BA (Cum laude, CNPq scholarship) in Piano Performance from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, BR).  She studied under Mr. Luiz Senise and Dr. Myrian Dauelsberg (piano), and Dr. Ray Lee (Contemporary Arts and Music).

Késia has been developing a rich and diverse career, as piano soloist, chamber music instrumentalist, contemporary music interpreter and as a musician in theatre productions. As a soloist, Késia has performed solo piano recitals to great acclaim in the UK, Brazil, Portugal, Canadá and Norway. She has also been developing an exciting career as an improviser, being member of Oxford Improvisers, and performing and recording in duo with cellist Bruno Guastalla.

Késia also has an interest in other art forms such as performance art, drama, video, photography, craft and installation. Among the highlights in her interdisciplinary projects, Késia presented the project myths & visions – a piano (& body) performance, which combined piano performance and dance in a solo show.

Késia Decoté was a co-founder and member of the avant-garde Brazilian Music group PianOrquestra – 10 hands and a prepared piano, and features in their first DVD.

Recently, Késia has been working in close collaborations with composers, promoting new works for piano and for toy piano, exploring innovative ways to present music and engage audiences.

‘Késia has a great sense of passion and interaction with viewers / listeners. Her work has a contemporary / classic contrast… absolutely beautiful and playful’. (A. Jempson, Oxford, UK)

‘Incrível a ‘viagem’ que Késia Decoté´ nos conduziu!’ [Such an amazing ‘journey’ that Késia Decoté led us through!’] (E. Decothé, Rio de Janeiro, BR) 

‘Last night was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to in Oxford. I was inspired.’ (Andrew Claxton, Oxford School of Music Principal, Oxford, UK)

‘Késia Decoté takes bold risks both with her choice of repertoire and by challenging the conventions of piano performance, and she emerges triumphant’(Colin May, music writer – Nightshift, Oxford Times).

‘… a talented and enthusiastic artist of great warmth and sensitivity’ (Xenia Pestova, London, UK)