Choro Das 3

Biography

Choro das 3 is a Brazilian instrumental group formed by three sisters from the state of São Paulo who specialize in choro, a 19th‑century genre that became a foundation for Brazilian popular music.[1][5][7] The group centers on Corina (flute and piccolo), Lia (7‑string guitar), and Elisa (mandolin, clarinet, banjo, piano, and accordion), who began playing together as children under the guidance of their parents in the countryside town of Porto Feliz, São Paulo.[4][6] Their late father, Eduardo Roque da Silva Ferreira, a pandeiro player, founded the band with them and was an integral member for 19 years until his death from COVID‑19 in 2021, after which the sisters chose to continue the project in his honor.[2][4][5][6]

The group’s origins are closely tied to Corina’s early fascination with choro: as a child she heard an album by legendary flutist Altamiro Carrilho, which inspired her to study recorder and later transverse flute, planting the seed for a family ensemble dedicated to Brazilian instrumental music.[1][6] Encouraged by a volunteer music teacher at Corina’s public school and supported by their parents’ decision to move closer to music study opportunities, the sisters deepened their training and soon began performing around São Paulo.[1][6] Initially called “Balaio de Gato,” they eventually adopted the name Choro das 3 and, in 2008, released their debut album Meu Brasil Brasileiro on major label Som Livre, produced and recorded in their own studio and blending classic choros such as “Aquarela do Brasil,” “Carinhoso,” and “Tico‑tico no fubá” with original compositions like Elisa’s “Bolinha de Gude.”[1][4]

Over the following years Choro das 3 became recognized as one of Brazil’s leading choro ensembles, winning the Prêmio Adoniran Barbosa and being named Best Group of Popular Music by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics, while also appearing on national television, playing for Brazilian presidents, and performing for massive audiences such as São Paulo’s New Year’s Eve celebration.[3][4][5][7] Their discography has grown to at least eleven albums, including Escorregando (2012), which pays tribute to composers like Ernesto Nazareth, Chiquinha Gonzaga, and Anacleto de Medeiros, and later releases such as Boas Novas (2013) and Boca de Goiaba (2014), which focus on contemporary compositions and incorporate rhythmic elements from baião, frevo, and other Brazilian and international styles.[1][5] Parallel to their Brazilian success, they have toured internationally—especially in the United States and Europe—using intricate arrangements, virtuosic playing, and a strong sense of family identity to introduce global audiences to choro while expanding the genre’s boundaries with influences from jazz, bluegrass, fado, chamamé, forró, and classical chamber music.[3][4][5][8]

Fun Facts

• Before becoming Choro das 3, the family originally performed under the name “Balaio de Gato” (“Basket of Cats”) and only adopted their current name shortly before releasing their debut album.
• Their first major concert opportunity came when the United States Consulate in São Paulo booked them, which helped launch their professional career beyond local performances.
• The debut album Meu Brasil Brasileiro was recorded, produced, and mixed by the sisters themselves in their home studio, an unusual level of self‑production for such young artists on a major label.
• Following the death of their father and percussionist Eduardo from COVID‑19 in 2021, the sisters chose to continue as a trio and now dedicate every performance to his memory, explicitly framing the band as a living tribute to him.

Members

• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - additional, piano
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - additional, clarinet
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - additional, lead vocals
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - accordion, additional
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - additional, banjo
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira - additional, mandolin

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Altamiro Carrilho - Corina heard an album by master choro flutist Altamiro Carrilho as a child; his playing inspired her to study recorder and then transverse flute, which directly led to the formation of the group. (Unspecified Altamiro Carrilho album that first introduced Corina to choro) [Early childhood of Corina (pre‑2002, before the group’s founding)]
• Unnamed volunteer music teacher in Porto Feliz public school - A volunteer teacher at Corina’s public school in Porto Feliz introduced her to music and helped start her formal study at a time when Brazilian public schools typically lacked music programs. (Early foundational music lessons for Corina that enabled the sisters’ later ensemble work) [Corina’s early school years (around age 7, before Choro das 3 formed)]

Key Collaborators

• Eduardo Roque da Silva Ferreira - Father of the three sisters, pandeiro player, and co‑founder/long‑time member of Choro das 3; he performed, rehearsed, and toured with them for nearly two decades and helped shape the group’s sound and professional path. (Founding family band performances and all albums up to his death, including Meu Brasil Brasileiro and subsequent releases during his lifetime) [Approximately 2002–2021]
• Adriano Andrade - Guest musician on their debut album, contributing cavaquinho parts that complemented the sisters’ and Eduardo’s core instrumentation. (Album Meu Brasil Brasileiro (2008)) [Recording period leading up to and including 2008]
• Ernesto Nazareth (repertory tribute) - Historic Brazilian composer whose choro “Escorregando” gives its title to Choro das 3’s 2012 album, which features his and other canonical choro works in newly arranged versions. (Album Escorregando (2012), including the track “Escorregando”) [Repertoire focus around the 2012 release]
• Chiquinha Gonzaga, Tia Amélia, Anacleto de Medeiros, Paulino Sacramento - Canonical Brazilian composers whose works Choro das 3 interpreted and recorded on Escorregando, engaging in a repertoire‑based collaboration across generations through new performances and arrangements. (Album Escorregando (2012)) [Repertoire focus around the 2012 release]
• Paulo Costa (Pacco), Paulo Fasanaro, Pacheco, Gallani, Arnaldinho, Zé Barbeiro, Fernando Brandão - Contemporary Brazilian composers and performers whose original pieces were recorded by Choro das 3 and who, in some cases, participated directly in the studio sessions, expanding the group’s network and arrangement palette. (Album Boas Novas (2013), with four tracks by the sisters and additional works by these composers) [Around the production and release of Boas Novas in 2013]
• Arnaldinho, José V. de Aragão, Pacheco, Ângelo Mauro, Renato Cardoso, Rosa Garbim, Diego Garbim - Guest musicians invited to record parts on Boas Novas, contributing additional instruments and textures to the group’s arrangements. (Album Boas Novas (2013)) [Boas Novas recording sessions (circa 2013)]
• Pacheco, Paulo Fasanaro, Fernando Brandão - Composers whose pieces form a significant part of the repertoire on Boca de Goiaba, with their works featured alongside the group’s own originals as Choro das 3 experimented with baião, frevo, and other rhythmic influences. (Album Boca de Goiaba (2014)) [Around the production and release of Boca de Goiaba in 2014]

Artists Influenced

• [[|]] - No specific individual artists are reliably documented as direct students or protégés of Choro das 3 in available sources; however, they are frequently cited as leading contemporary exponents of choro and have helped popularize the genre for new audiences in Brazil, the United States, and Europe through concerts, media appearances, and online outreach.

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #brazilian, #chorinho, #choro