Natanael Ferreira, viola

Natanael Ferreira began studying the piano at the age of nine. He then began to teach himself the viola with the help of his uncle, a conductor. Shortly after joining the Youth Orchestra of Goias in Brazil, he toured Europe as first viola, later earning a scholarship to study at the academy of the São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra. In 2013 he won first prize at the Campos do Jordão Winter Festival in Brazil and began his studies with Miguel da Silva at the Haute Ecole de Musique Genève the following year. In 2015 he won several prizes at the Académie Ravel as well as third prize at the 2018 Rahn Musikpreis. Natanael Ferreira was a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in 2016 and often performs with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. He regularly gives concerts in Switzerland, France and Belgium with such musicians as Régis Pasquier, Miguel da Silva, Henri Demarquette, Lorenzo Gatto, Marc Coppey, Ilya Gringolts and Heinz Holliger.

During the 2018-2019 season, he was regurly invited to perform at La Belle Saison and Les Folles Journées de Nantes. He will soon release his first CD with clarinettist Vitor Fernandes and pianist Elio Coria. He plays a viola from the El Pasito Foundation and is supported by the Music Academy of Villecroze.

In 2019 he entered the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel as Artist in Residence in the class of Miguel da Silva.

Natanael benefits from a scholarship granted by an anonymous donor