Dr. Luiz Barcellos

Biography

Luiz Claudio Barcellos is a Brazilian guitarist, composer, and music educator with expertise in musical creativity, songwriting, popular music, and arts-based research. He has released albums of original songs and composed music for film, theater, dance, and animation. Dr. Barcellos has published and presented music education research at both national and international venues. His teaching experience includes eight years at the British School in Rio, four years at the Escola Americana in Rio de Janeiro, and four years at Atlanta International School. In 2017, he led a captivating flash mob at the Southside shopping mall in London, featuring a groundbreaking performance of "Cidade Maravilhosa," a classic Brazilian carnival march. Barcellos received Graduate Research Assistant funding at Georgia State University for a long-standing research project that involved an innovative middle school creativity program characterized by partnerships with community leaders from the entertainment industry. This culminated in a dissertation study inspired by the works of Dr. Graham McPhail and Dr. John Kratus, where it was noted that he authored a significant research study in children's songwriting. At Penn State, Dr. Barcellos teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses, focusing on the philosophy of music education and songwriting, with the ultimate goal of providing authentic music experiences that foster students' musical understanding and support their growth.

Research Interests

Courses