Brazil Unfolded: A Portrait in Four Hands
American pianist Theresa Bogard is a dynamic, versatile performer dedicated to expanding the canon of traditional piano repertoire. A world traveler with a passion for other cultures, Bogard has performed on five continents in Belgium, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and throughout the United States. Her extensive discography includes a wide variety of recordings ranging from solo piano to chamber music collaborations, from music of living composers to her specialty in fortepiano and historical performance practice.
She has served on the faculty of the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy and the Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Music Festival in Germany and has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and at the Ravinia Steans Institute with cellist Misha Quint. Since her first concert tour in Brazil in 2007, she has become obsessed with the music of Brazilian composers. Returning to Brazil whenever possible, she has given masterclasses and performances at universities in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Goiania and Porto Alegre. In 2018, she toured five cities in Brazil with the Trio das Nações and will return to Brazil in 2022 for a recording of works for flute and piano by Brazilian composers.
Helber Fernandes Ribeiro is a concert pianist and piano instructor specialized in 19th-century piano repertoire. A native of Brazil, he blends a profound understanding of musical aesthetics with an innovative and structured teaching approach, inspiring both audiences and students.
A multilingual artist, Helber actively promotes Brazilian music through performances, recordings, and scholarly projects. His work has been recognized with multiple awards in international piano competitions, as well as grants and scholarships for academic excellence. Committed to shaping the next generation of pianists, he continues to contribute to the global appreciation of piano music.
Dr. Theresa Bogard
Piano Professor and Keyboard Area Coordinator – University of Wyoming
American pianist Theresa Bogard is a dynamic, versatile performer dedicated to expanding the canon of traditional piano repertoire. Her early career focused on performances of music by women composers, and she continues to include works by other lesser-known composers in her varied programs. As a recipient of a coveted Fulbright grant, Bogard was able to explore her interest in historical performance practice and fortepiano studying at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague in the Netherlands. That same year she was a top-prize winner in the International Mozart Fortepiano Competition in Bruges, Belgium. A world traveler with a passion for other cultures, Bogard has performed on five continents in Belgium, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and throughout the United States. Her extensive discography includes a wide variety of recordings ranging from solo piano to chamber music collaborations, from music of living composers to her specialty in fortepiano and historical performance practice.
She has served on the faculty of the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy and the Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Music Festival in Germany and has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and at the Ravinia Steans Institute with cellist Misha Quint. Since her first concert tour in Brazil in 2007, she has become obsessed with the music of Brazilian composers. Returning to Brazil whenever possible, she has given masterclasses and performances at universities in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Goiania and Porto Alegre. In 2018, she toured five cities in Brazil with the Trio das Nações and will return to Brazil in 2022 for a recording of works for flute and piano by Brazilian composers.
Internationally known as a pedagogue, she has been honored with numerous teaching awards. She attracts students from around the world as professor of piano at the University of Wyoming, where she also served as chair of the music department from 2010 to 2016. In 2008, she was chosen as the Wyoming Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Her students have distinguished themselves in numerous piano competitions and been accepted into the top graduate and undergraduate programs in the country including: The Julliard School, Eastman School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Peabody Conservatory of Music among others. She has also served as an adjudicator at numerous regional, national and international piano competitions. Dr. Bogard is a Steinway Artist.
Dr. Helber Fernandes Ribeiro
Concert Pianist and Director of the IPPA International Piano Competition – Brazil Division
Helber Fernandes Ribeiro is a concert pianist and piano instructor specialized in 19th-century piano repertoire. A native of Brazil, he blends a profound understanding of musical aesthetics with an innovative and structured teaching approach, inspiring both audiences and students. Passionate about inclusion in music education, he integrates research-driven pedagogy to address diverse learning needs.
Helber holds a Doctor of Arts in Music Performance with an emphasis on piano performance and piano pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, where his dissertation explored Brazilian piano works as potential pedagogical choices. He also earned a Master of Professional Studies in Music Performance from Fort Hays State University and a Bachelor of Music in Piano from the University of São Paulo.
As an educator, Helber has taught piano students of all ages and skill levels in both academic and studio settings, earning recognition for his dedication to student growth. His teaching portfolio includes undergraduate course design, masterclasses, and mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds. In addition to his pedagogical work, he has collaborated with renowned ensembles, performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, and recorded works by underrepresented composers.
A multilingual artist, Helber actively promotes Brazilian music through performances, recordings, and scholarly projects. His work has been recognized with multiple awards in international piano competitions, as well as grants and scholarships for academic excellence. Committed to shaping the next generation of pianists, he continues to contribute to the global appreciation of piano music.