Victor Furtado grew up steeped in old-time music, spending his early years at fiddle conventions, festivals, and jams throughout Virginia and the greater Appalachian region. Along the way, he was exposed to musicians like Nate Leath, Danny Knicely, Rex McGee, Joe Troop, and his 8 older siblings whose playing inspired him to explore beyond traditional old-time and bluegrass. Those experiences helped shape the fearless, personal style that defines his banjo playing today.
At the age of 11, Victor recorded an album at home on a Zoom recorder and gave one to Tom Mindte, owner of Patuxent Records. Mindte offered to produce an album for him and assembled a studio band including Danny Knicely, Nate Leath, and Mark Schatz. That project launched a long collaboration with Patuxent, where Furtado went on to record multiple albums.
He began performing nationally, appearing on the Grand Ole Opry and earning recognition for his unique style of clawhammer banjo. Furtado later became the youngest recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass and went on to study at Berklee College of Music, where his work expanded through songwriting, collaboration, and studio experience.
Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Furtado works as a performing artist, studio musician, and teacher. He is a longtime member of the Sam Grisman Project and performs with artists including Tim O’Brien, while also maintaining an active solo career and a duo project with his sibling, singer and musician Lu Furtado.
Alongside performing, Furtado is deeply involved in teaching. He founded Dirt Banjo School, an online learning community focused on old-time banjo, and teaches at music camps and workshops far and wide, sharing the culture which he grew up in. His approach to teaching reflects the same values as his playing, practical, rooted in tradition, and open to individual voice..