Rita Ferreira

RITA FERREIRA Brazilian Tenor Saxophonist.

Ms. Ferreira started her studies in Sao Luis, Maranhao, Brazil and continued her training at the Pro-Arte Music School in Rio de Janeiro where she studied with renowned French saxophonist Idris Brodroue. At the same time, she developed an interest in Brazilian Jazz. She studied theory and harmony for two years at the University of Rio de Janeiro and continued lessons with popular and talented saxophonist Widor Santiago who performs with Brazil’s most talented and best known artists such as Djavan and Joao Bosco. In America she studied performance in jazz for the saxophone at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) along side Calvin Jones. Later she joined the George Washington University Latin Jazz ensemble called “los gringos” led by the late band director Ricky Loza (R.I.P.). While at GWU she also studied with renowned saxophonist Peter Fraize. Rita Ferreira is no stranger to the Metropolitan Jazz scene as she has performed at various venues in the D.C. area for over a decade including: the well known Blues Alley as a solo performer and alongside the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra (Frank Edison, Director), Bohemian Caverns, Tryst Coffee house in Adams Morgan, The Saloon on U street, Café Nema, Ghana Café, The Islander and many, many other well known venues. In addition, she is the only known performing Brazilian female tenor saxophonist in the D.C. area.