Composer’s Day is celebrated this Wednesday (15), thanks to the importation of a Mexican tradition. There, the date has been celebrated since 1983, when the Mexican Union of Authors, Composers and Music Editors (SMACEM) was founded, on the same day that, in 1945, the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico (SACM) was created. .
Around here, Brazilian Composer’s Day is celebrated on October 7th, thanks to Herivelto Martins, a famous singer from the radio era who also founded the União Brasileira de Compositores.
As Carnival approaches, the CNN has separated for you a list of five famous artists who have already composed sambas-enredo; some of them have already had — or will still have — their works immortalized on the avenue. Check it out below:
Anita
The samba chosen by Unidos da Tijuca for Carnival 2025. The owner of hits such as “Envolver” and “Bellakeo” signed the work alongside Estevão Ciavatta, Feyjão, Miguel PG, Fred Camacho, Diego Nicolau and Luiz Antônio Simas.
Even though she participated in the official recording of the samba-enredo for the CD of the Grupo Especial samba schools, Anitta at Marques de Sapucaí, the place that hosts the parades during the Rio carnival.
The singer had already used the synopsis of the school’s plot as in which she promoted the video for , which has her experience within religion as the narrative focus. After announcing the video’s theme, Anitta posted on her official Instagram account.
Sandra de Sa
Singer Sandra de Sá has also ventured into the world of samba-enredo composition. Hers is the work that Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel used, in 2020, to honor Elza Soares — one of the main names in the history of the association in the west zone of Rio.
The voice of “Olhos Coloridos” signed the work alongside Igor Vianna, Dr. Márcio, Solano Santos, Renan Diniz, Jefferson Oliveira, Professor Laranjo and Telmo Augusto and saw their samba fill the parade that won 3rd place for Mocidade that year. This was, with the exception of the 2017 title, the school’s best placement since 1997. The procession also marked the last time that Elza defended the colors of her favorite school, as she died in January 2022 and there was no Carnival in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marcelo Adnet
Comedian Marcelo Adnet also ventures into the world of samba-enredo. He is the author of two sambas from São Clemente, his favorite school: 2020 and 2023. The carioca also won sambas in São Paulo, with his pen being responsible for the works that graced Dragões da Real parades (2022, 2023 and 2024) , Leandro de Itaquera (2022), Rosas de Ouro (2022) and Gaviões da Fiel (2022).
Xande de Pilares
Connected to Acadêmicos do Salgueiro since childhood, Xande de Pilares began his career in what the world of samba schools usually calls “mid-year samba”, but he returned to his roots and also composed plot sambas. He is the composer of four sambas from his favorite school (2014, 2015, 2018 and 2025), in addition to having his pen in other schools, such as Unidos de Padre Miguel, Vai-Vai and Império Serrano.
Jojo Todynho
Before leaving his favorite school, Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, the influencer who participated in the competition to become the anthem that the school in the west zone will take to Sapucaí in March.
Jojo Todynho’s work, which was also written by Beto Corrêa, Rodrigo Medeiros, Cristiano Plácido, Guto Listo, Gilberto Monteiro, Wilson Paulino, Márcia Carvalho, Giacomo and Samir Trindade, competed with eight other sambas and ended up defeated in the Mocidade qualifiers.
At this year’s Carnival, the group has the theme “Returning to the future, there are no limits to dreaming” and will sing on the avenue the samba composed by the partnership led by composers Paulo Cesar Feital and Cláudio Russo.
