Hamilton de Holanda is a Brazilian mandolin player, composer, and arranger born in Rio de Janeiro in 1976. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary figures in Brazilian instrumental music and a musician who redefined the role of the mandolin in modern performance.
Raised in Brasília, he began playing the bandolim, the Brazilian version of the mandolin, at an early age and gave his first public performance at just six years old. His participation in traditional choro jam sessions played a major role in shaping his musical identity.
Hamilton de Holanda became internationally recognized for his innovative approach to the instrument. By adding two extra strings to the traditional bandolim, he created a custom ten-string version that expanded the instrument’s technical and harmonic possibilities. His virtuosity, improvisational speed, and genre-crossing approach established him as one of the leading instrumentalists of his generation.
His music combines traditional Brazilian styles such as choro, samba, and bossa nova with jazz and contemporary improvisation. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned artists including Yamandu Costa, Mike Marshall, Stefano Bollani, João Bosco, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
He has released numerous albums both as a solo artist and with various ensembles, including projects such as Brasilianos, Samba do Avião, Harmonize, and Samurai. His work has earned multiple Latin Grammy nominations and awards, reinforcing his reputation as one of Brazil’s most respected contemporary instrumental musicians.
In addition to performing, Hamilton de Holanda is active as an educator and advocate for Brazilian musical traditions. He helped establish the first Choro School in Brasília and continues to support new generations of musicians interested in the genre.
Today, Hamilton de Holanda is recognized as one of the most influential contemporary Brazilian instrumentalists, celebrated for blending tradition with innovation through virtuosity, improvisation, and musical creativity.
