José Maria Bessone is a Portuguese-Canadian pianist whose activity spans the solo repertoire, chamber music, and vocal and instrumental accompaniment, covering a repertoire ranging from the 18th century to the present day.

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He has performed in Portugal, Spain, France, and Canada where he currently lives. His solo and chamber music performances have been broadcast by the Portuguese public radio Antena 2, as part of the PortugalSom series and the program Piano (a)Gosto. As a soloist, he has collaborated with the Orquestre Vingtetun and with the chamber orchestra Sylva Camerata. He has also taken part in the Orford Music and Projeto:Canção festivals, performing in concerts held within the framework of their respective artistic development programs.

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He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano from the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, where he studied with Artur Pizarro and Paulo Pacheco, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Performance at the Université de Montréal under the guidance of Jimmy Brière and Zacharie LeBlanc.

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His interest in early music, in exploring the possibilities of harmony and counterpoint, and in the symphonic dimension of musical form has also led him to study harpsichord with Elisabeth Joyé, historical-style improvisation with António Esteireiro, and orchestral conducting with Jean-Marc Burfin.

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He has been awarded scholarships and merit-based grants from the GDA Foundation, the Lions Club Figueira da Foz Centro, and the Université de Montréal.

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Alongside his concert activity, he is also dedicated to music teaching. He has taught at the Lisbon Conservatory and currently teaches at the École des Jeunes of the Université de Montréal, while also maintaining a private piano studio.