Welcome to the website of Portuguese musician Pedro Carneiro

© Patrícia Andrade

Pedro Carneiro is acclaimed internationally as a solo classical percussionist, conductor and composer. Pedro’s virtuosity, passion, explosive energy, inquiring mind and emotional spontaneity have inspired several of today’s leading composers to write works specially for him. He performs and records with many prestigious orchestras around the globe, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra and many others. He founded the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra (OCP) in 2007. In 2010, he founded the Portuguese Youth Orchestra (JOP), a member of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras. Both orchestras have toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. He is also the founder of various social projects (with disabled musicians and with socially disadvantaged children) in the greater Lisbon area and beyond. Pedro is a sought after teacher as well as a passionate inventor: he has created many new mallets, sticks, a marimba damper pedal and accessories – some of which are now entering the repertoire and being used by percussionists around the world. Having written concert music, Pedro’s main focus in recent years has been the interaction with other forms: theatre, dance and film – for which he as produced a considerable body of work. Carneiros’s extensive discography includes solo, concerti, chamber music and improvisation.