The Jangada Ensemble

Guitar and Music Direction

Brazilian guitarist and academic Dr. Felipe Garibaldi is an accomplished performer and educator. His musical innovations span premiere performances, recordings, scholarly work, original compositions, and unique collaborations. Recent projects include the world premiere and U.S. debut of Claudio Santoro’s works for guitar, a feature in Soundboard Magazine, a lecture at the Guitar Foundation of America convention, and broadcast premieres of Brazilian guitar music on São Paulo’s Cultura FM.

Garibaldi’s career bridges concert performance, studio work, and music pedagogy. He received the Prêmio Nascente from the University of São Paulo for his performances of J.S. Bach and has worked as a session musician and arranger on Sony Music projects. He has taught guitar for over twenty years, mentoring students into leading music programs and artistic careers.

Having studied with renowned guitarists such as Leo Brouwer, Sérgio Assad, David Russell, Eliot Fisk, and Manuel Barrueco, he earned his doctorate at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University under Julian Gray, following his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of São Paulo, under Edelton Gloeden.

He currently teaches at UMBC, where he directs the Guitar Collective, and at Frostburg State University.

Flute

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Maddy Strong draws on her multicultural upbringing as inspiration for her creative work. A dynamic flutist, collaborator, and educator, she enjoys sharing music with diverse audiences and is deeply committed to community engagement and expanding access to high-quality music education.

She holds degrees from the Peabody Institute and the University of North Texas. Her classical training has served as a foundation for exploring other genres and collaborating with artists across the DMV and in El Paso. Over the years, she’s participated in numerous summer programs in the U.S. and abroad—often as a merit scholar—and has invested her time in vibrant, historically under-resourced musical communities. She’s received scholarships to festivals including Kent-Blossom, Marrowstone, and PRISMA, and maintains strong ties with El Paso Pro-Musica.

Beyond performance, Maddy is passionate about youth empowerment and educational equity. Through grant writing, fundraising, and teaching, she has supported arts access initiatives for several organizations, including four years with the Baltimore Symphony’s OrchKids. She currently works with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center.

Percussion

Dr. Juan Megna is a celebrated Argentinian percussionist, drummer, and bandleader known for his vibrant performances and deep-rooted passion for music. He began his career in São Paulo, Brazil, where he spent 12 years immersed in the local music scene, collaborating with artists like Rubinho Antunes, Vinicius Dorin, Jarbas Barbosa, and Bruno Mangueira.

Since relocating to the Washington, D.C. area in 2017, Juan has performed with celebrated jazz musicians including Wade Beach, Shawn Purcell, and Tedd Baker, earning recognition for his dynamic style and innovative compositions. He leads The Juan Megna Group, blending jazz, Argentinian, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. His debut album Mariwô received acclaim from both press and peers.

As an educator, Juan teaches at Catholic University’s Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art, and directs the Latin-American Ensemble at George Mason University. He also presents clinics, including his talk on Brazilian 16th-note phrasing at the Jazz Education Network conference.

Through performance, education, and cultural exchange, Juan Megna continues to shape the musical landscape and inspire students and audiences alike.

Percussion

Drummer, Brazilian percussionist, and composer, Filipe Brandão holds a Bachelor's degree in popular music from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He was a staple in the music scene in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and his musical inspirations date back to his childhood in Sete Lagoas, also located in Minas Gerais. Since the beginning of his career, Filipe has always worked on several musical projects, accompanied musicians, and created his own musical projects. In 2014, he was approved in a highly competitive selection to join the Minas Gerais Military Police Band, an institution in which he remained for seven years. Also, as part of his many musical achievements, in 2018, he was a semi-finalist in another highly selective competition, called BDMG Instrumental. BDMG is an instrumental award aimed at composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists, valuing musical capabilities and highly creative talents in his home state of Minas Gerais. Filipe created the successful Terra à Vista Instrumental Music Project, a project conceived for trio, quartet, and quintet formats. filipebrandaomusic.com