From October 2 to 5, 2025, the UFRJ School of Music served as the venue for the 5th Funarte–UFRJ Band Symposium, an event integrated into the project Bands: A Pedagogical Support System for Concert Bands, an outreach initiative of UFRJ developed in partnership with Funarte. With the theme “Music, Technology, and Pedagogical Processes”, the symposium created a space for dialogue, reflection, and professional development for musicians, conductors, educators, and researchers from across Brazil.

The Bands Project focused on the development of pedagogical principles applied to the design of teaching plans, the training of conductors and instrumentalists, and the strengthening of educational practices within concert bands and symphonic bands. The initiative also provided technical support to Funarte’s Bands Project through the production of didactic and pedagogical content, the development of teaching and learning methodologies, the connection of conductors and musicians from different regions of the country, and the editing of band music scores, including the series Repertório de Ouro das Bandas de Música do Brasil, Música Brasileira para Bandas, Hinos do Brasil, and A Banda do Villa.

Over the course of four days, the symposium enabled participants to engage with musicians and professors from various regions of Brazil, as well as specialists addressing key topics related to the improvement of artistic and pedagogical processes in band development. The program featured instrumental workshops, lectures, round tables, practical music sessions, repertoire readings, discussion groups, and concerts, encompassing a wide range of levels and professional backgrounds.

The event also promoted the sharing of knowledge regarding original repertoire and arrangements for concert band, symphonic band, and wind orchestra, encouraging reflection on ensemble practice, interpretative performance, and the use of pedagogical and technological tools, always with a focus on artistic and musical excellence.

Coordinated by Professor Marcelo Jardim, the 5th Funarte–UFRJ Band Symposium featured performances and activities with the UFRJ Wind Orchestra, the Villa-Lobos Quintet, the FAETEC Symphonic Band of Marechal Hermes, as well as other invited ensembles. Faculty members from the UFRJ School of Music and UNIRIO—including Everson Moraes, Lélio Alves, Marco Túlio, Júlio Merlino, Leandro Soares, Cristiano Alves, Aloysio Fagerlande, Philip Doyle, and Tiago Carneiro—took part in workshops, lectures, and panels, along with guests from other regions of Brazil, such as composer Hudson Nogueira and Marcos Moreira, coordinator of the Penedo Music Festival (AL), among other conductors and instrumentalists.