A classical guitarist from São Paulo, Brazil, Nander Nogueira de Novaes is celebrated for his engaging musicality, virtuosic technique, and communicative presence as a performer. He began his music studies in guitar and music theory under the guidance of his parents, Eunice and Orlando Novaes, both professional musicians and ministers of music in the Methodist Church of Brazil.

Novaes pursued his first formal studies in classical guitar at the Heitor Villa-Lobos Conservatory of Music under his father’s mentorship. At 18, he became the youngest musician to be appointed Director of Music by the leadership of the Methodist Church of Brazil, an unprecedented achievement that later led him to represent Brazil at the CIEMAL – Congresso de Igrejas Evangélicas Metodistas da América Latina in Argentina.

In 1999, he earned a competitive scholarship to the Escola Municipal de Música de São Paulo, studying under Henrique Pinto in the guitar performance program. He also attended the nationally acclaimed choir conducting course under Naomi Munakata, director of the Coro Sinfônico do Estado de São Paulo. Novaes completed his Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance at Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, studying with Dr. Paulo de Tarso Salles and Dr. Edilson de Lima. During his undergraduate studies, he served as Assistant Instructor in Guitar and Music Theory, and made his recital debut at the Sala Assis Chateaubriand at the Museu de Artes de São Paulo (MASP).

He pursued graduate studies at Universidade de São Paulo, focusing on musicology, and at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), exploring Brazilian historical musicology. He performed recitals throughout São Paulo presenting repertoire related to his research, and participated in masterclasses with renowned guitarists including Fabio Zanon, Eli Kasner, Hubert Küppel, and Thomas Patterson.

Upon recommendation from Henrique Pinto, Dr. Thomas Patterson, and Dr. Edilson de Lima, Novaes pursued graduate studies at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He earned a Guitar Performer Diploma in 2010 and was appointed Associate Instructor. He also completed studies in Sacred Music and Early Music Voice under Dr. Janette Fishell and Dr. Paul Elliott.

An accomplished low bass singer, Novaes has performed in the United States with the vocal consort Vox Reflexa under Ben Geier and the Concentus Ensemble under Paul Elliott and Nigel North. His performance career spans Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S., with a repertoire including works by J. S. Bach, Fernando Sor, Dionisio Aguado, Johan Kaspar Mertz, Francisco Tárrega, Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Augustin Barrios, M. Castelnuovo Tedesco, and Villa-Lobos. In 2012, he released his first guitar solo album, Allegro, recorded at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Bloomington, where he served as executive producer.

The triad of music performance, sacred music, and theology is central to Novaes’ vocational calling. A recipient of the Elisa Garrett Leadership Distinguished Alum Award and the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts Award, he earned a Master of Arts in Music Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, graduating with honors and joining the Theta Alpha Kappa National Honors Society for Religious Studies and Theology.

After completing his doctoral coursework at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, Novaes served as Associate Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, IN, and later as Director of Music Ministries and Choir Director at Normal First United Methodist Church in Normal, IL.

Currently, he resides in São Paulo, Brazil, with his wife, Ana Cláudia, is pursuing a Master of Divinity at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and serves as choir director for the Methodist Church of Brazil in Artur Alvim, São Paulo.