Isaías Rabelo

Isaías Rabelo is a Bahian pianist, keyboardist, composer, and music educator born and raised in the Periperi neighborhood of Salvador. He launched his professional musical journey remarkably early: by the age of 11, he was already playing the piano to back his church’s choir and worship band, developing his skills entirely as a self-taught musician without any formal training.

At 13, his exceptional talent earned him a spot in an elite piano extension program at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), where he studied for four years before formally entering the university. At UFBA, he earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree. He also holds a degree in Business Administration from UCSAL and a postgraduate specialization in Music Therapy, masterfully pairing his deep artistic expertise with a solid academic foundation.

Widely recognized as a vital name in Bahian contemporary instrumental music, Isaías draws major inspiration from jazz and Brazilian popular music. His versatile artistry, however, extends far beyond these boundaries, fluidly traversing distinct musical languages and backing diverse artists and high-profile creative projects.

Throughout his acclaimed career, he has anchored several premier ensembles within Salvador’s instrumental circuit. In 2012, for instance, he joined drummer Marcelo Brasil’s group, performing alongside elite musicians such as Milton Pelegrine, Alex Mesquita, Gustavo de Dalva, Kainã do Jêje, and André Becker. He later became a member of the Marcelo Bratrio, continuing his tightly-knit collaboration with Marcelo Brasil and Milton Pelegrine.

His commanding presence is also a staple of major jazz and instrumental movements. At the iconic JAM no MAM in Salvador, he has shared the stage with the absolute finest musicians of the Bahian vanguard, delivering a curated repertoire that explores jazz standards and MPB classics, including masterworks by João Donato, Tom Jobim, Marcos Valle, and the legendary Mateus Aleluia.

In 2024, he joined the stellar cast of the multimedia performance #Histoca at the Caixa Cultural Salvador. Performing alongside singer-songwriter Alexandre Leão, bassist Israel Ramos, percussionist Joceval Santana, and historian/storyteller Ricardo Carvalho, the project creatively mapped the profound connections between Brazilian music and historical milestones.

Beyond his live performances and studio sessions, Isaías maintains a powerful career as a music instructor. He is a prominent faculty member at TEMUS (School of Music and Technology), where he teaches piano and keyboards, developing a specialized pedagogy that seamlessly combines sheet music reading, chord charts, accompaniment styling, and classical piano techniques applied directly to modern keyboards.

This deep-rooted passion for teaching shines brightly through his vital work with The Projeto Radio Terra, the non-profit music education organization founded by Lon Bové. Isaías heads the Online Keyboard Course, actively contributing to the organization’s mission of providing high-quality, tuition-free music education over the internet to rising generations.