Frigate Captain Maestro José Joaquim de Araújo Pereira began his musical studies with Professor Emília Fão, in Seixas-Caminha, his hometown, becoming a member of the local Philharmonic under the guidance of João da Costa and maestro Rafael Alves.
After joining the Navy, he applied for the Navy Band, where he spent his entire career until he became an Officer, taking the respective public exams at the National Conservatory of Lisbon (Technical Exams) and at the Naval School (Social-Military Sciences).
As a member of the famous group 'Os Náuticos', he toured Cape Verde, Guinea, Angola, and Mozambique and participated in several radio and television recordings.
In the meantime, he continued his academic studies, completing the Complementary High School Course and admission to the University, while he was completing the courses in Acoustics, History of Music, Musical Education and the Higher Course in Composition at the National Conservatory of Lisbon.
In 1983, he attended the 1st Orchestra Conducting Course promoted by the Portuguese Musical Education Association and sponsored by the German Music Council, which was taught by Maestro Hans Herbert Joris.
In 1986, he participated in a Big Band Interpretation and Conducting Course at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
He was a member of the Pedagogical Council of the Linda-a-Velha School of Music and Ballet, as Director of the courses taught there to students from the Navy Band.
He is the author of several light music arrangements recorded by the Navy Band in the album 'Anos 90' and of several military marches, most notably 'Na Terra e no Mar', included in the Long-Play 'Cantando o Mar'.
He is a member of the International Military Society.