Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Viana has a Ph.D. in music composition from the Federal University of Bahia.
He has studied with his father – Sebastiao Vianna – and in courses and seminars about music and film in several official institutions at Accademia Chigiana di Siena, Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, Arts Academy of Rome, Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Federal University of Minas Gerais(, Federal University of Bahia, among others.
His first teacher was his father, Sebastião Vianna (assistant and reviser for the Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos), and most recently[when?]
Viana has also composed film scores for the following films: A Cartomante, Retalhos do Taquaril, Bem Próximo do Mal (Next Evil), Jogando para o Amanhã, O Próximo Passo, Gun’s Speech, Trem Fantasma, 3:00:AM, Corações Ardentes, Filhos de Adão, Perdidos em Abbey Road, Vivalma, Manuelzão e Bananeira, Ofélia, Opostos, Minas Portuguesa, O Homem da Cabeça de Papelão, Convict, Ser Humano (Human Being), Um Dia Qualquer, Nego, Reenactment, Desafios, Oswaldo França Júnior, Padre Victor and Belatriz.
He has developed diverse musical projects in countries other than Brazil, such as Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, the USA, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden.