Joana Guerra (Lisbon, 1983) is a cellist, composer, improviser whose restlessness and passion for experimentation have led her to collaborate with numerous musicians, as well as to participate in dance and theater projects, weaving a unique and ever-expanding universe. She has worked in various contexts, both solo and collectively, moving freely across artistic disciplines. Joana incorporates a wide range of influences, including noise, improvisation, folk, jazz, experimental music, traditional and minimalist sounds, unifying these references in a distinctive approach. She studied at the Lisbon Music Conservatory while completing her university degree in Modern Languages and Literature, always balancing academia with an intuitive approach to music. Her desire to push the boundaries of the cello and incorporate new sounds led her to Lisbon’s free improvisation movement.

Joana Guerra has released four albums as part of her solo project, the most recent being “Chão Vermelho” (Miasmah Records): impressionistic and experimental songs, guided by the hypnotic cello. She collaborates in exploratory and improvised music projects such as The Alvaret Ensemble, Lantana, Tratado Ensemble (inspired by Cornelius Cardew’s Treatise), Orquestra do Ruído, among others. Additionally, she collaborates with various artists, including Joëlle Léandre, Surma, Gume, João Ferro Martins, Manja Ristić, Victor Herrero, Ricardo Jacinto, Lula Pena, Mikhail Karikis, Yaw Tembe, Asimov, Tiago Sousa and Pop Dell’Arte.

Guerra has worked extensively with communities through interdisciplinary projects that combine music, dance and theater, often in rural, educational and participatory contexts. Her collaborations with choreographers Madalena Victorino and Clara Andermatt stand out, as well as her work with the documentary theater company Hotel Europa and the João Garcia Miguel company.