Yohann Lopes is researcher in Ethnomusicology, specializing in the Portuguese Concertina, a sort of diatonic accordion of the Portuguese Alto-Minho (organology, acoustics, repertoire, playing techniques, pedagogy, identity, collection, performance, Heritage). His interest includes questions of local identity, folklore, tradition and politics, and cantares ao desafio (Portuguese poetic jousts). Doctor from the University of Paris-Sorbonne (France) under the tutelage of the Professor Francois Picard, he is also actif member of the Ethnomusicology French Society (SFE). He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in LLCE portugais from the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

Beyond the theory, he maintains a relationship of instrumental practice at a professional level by holding the prizes of various national and international competitions including the prestigious First Prize of the Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon in the category Accordéon Diatonique Senior in 2011 ( Pineto, Italy).

Pluri-instrumentist, he obtained two first prizes of classical guitar at the Conservatoire National de Région de Versailles in the class of Christian Channel and in the Conservatoire de Viroflay in the class of Marie-Nonne Lanson.

From a didactic point of view, in 1999/2000, he created a method of Portuguese concertina which he developed over a decade on the field, thus training many students as professor of concertina, performing arts and contributing to the formation of many tocadores (players of concertina) intervening in Portuguese cultural associations.

As a music professional, he is invited as an Artist to play in several international festivals in Duo with his brother, co-founder of the Duo Paris-Lisbon project, but also in Trio with his brother and father, co-founders of the group Triolopes. These various formations participated in large-scale events, some of which exceeded an audience of 35,000 persons. Invited at the Carrefour Mondial de l’Accordion in Quebec (2011, Canada), their concert received the prestigious « coup de cœur du public ».

Currently he continues his work of dissemination of the Portuguese concertina by regularly participating in international tours with his various formations, writing articles for specialized magazines and giving lessons and Master Classes throughout the world.