Matheus Souza, D.M.A.

About Matheus

Matheus Souza, violin professor at Central Michigan University, is a Brazilian violinist and educator with a diverse musical background. Rooted in Brazilian popular music, particularly Choro, he collaborated with renowned artists such as Joel Nascimento, Jaime Vignoli, Luiz Otávio Braga, and Oscar Bolão, developing skills beyond traditional classical training. Souza participated in prestigious festivals like the Varna International Music Festival and the Campos do Jordão Winter Festival, working with esteemed musicians such as Kurt Masur, Alex Klein, and Antônio Meneses. He earned his Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music, where he collaborated with Krzysztof Penderecki and Peter Oundjian, and was the first recipient of the Malcolm L. Mitchell and Donald M. Roberts Class of 1957 award for excellence in teaching. In 2018, he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University. Souza has an extensive performance record, including over 160 appearances in a single year, with highlights such as concerts at the United Nations, tours in Japan, solo performances in Brazil, and soundtrack recordings for franchises like Star Wars, Final Fantasy, Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, and Kingdom Hearts. He has also conducted masterclasses and workshops across the United States, Japan, Brazil, and China.

My goal is to inspire and motivate students in their own pursuit of excellence and musical maturity, both in performance and analysis.