Nathan Amaral

First prize winner of the 27th Sphinx Competition, the Brazilian violinist Nathan Amaral has earned a reputation in South America, USA and Europe for being a "versatile, charismatic violinist with a natural musical understanding" (Liza Ferschtman). Having performed as a soloist and chamber musician at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, KKL at Lucerne Festival, Mozarteum Großer Saal and Berliner Philharmonie, Nathan has been awarded 1st and special prizes in numerous national and international competitions including the Paul Roczek Award at Mozarteum University Salzburg, Wiener Klassik Preis in Vienna, CIMA International Competition, Waslau Borkowski Violin Competition, the Eleazar de Carvalho Competition (the most significant prize for young musicians in Brazil) and the Ruggiero Ricci Violin Competition.

Nathan’s recent engagements included his debut as soloist with the Chineke Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s Southbank Centre and on tour, as well as his Decca debut album recording with Chineke, and chamber music performances at the Wigmore Hall and at the Konzerthaus Dortmund with the renowned violinist Hilary Hahn.

Nathan has performed with orchestras such as Jenaer Philharmonic, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, OSESP (São Paulo State Symphony), Ilumina Chamber, and been invited to the Krzyzowa Music Festival, Yellow Barn in Vermont, Open Chamber Music (IMS Pussia Cove), Kaleidoscope Collective. Among his past chamber music partners are Tabea Zimmerman, Hilary Hahn, Donald Weilerstein, Paul Lewis, Viviane Hagner, Yura Lee, Julian Steckel, Eckart Runge, Anthony Marwood and Carolin Widmann. He has attended masterclasses hosted by Pinchas Zukerman, Midori Goto, Ferenc Rados, Miriam Fried, Gerhard Schulz and Christoph Poppen.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Nathan received his first violin lessons at the age of twelve as part of a social project in the favela of Mangueira. The project was intended as a recreational initiative to take children out of the streets due to the high risk of criminality and drug abuse. In a class of 200 students he was the only one who kept pursuing music, and to give back to his community, in 2021 Nathan founded his own festival (Week of Musical Integration) to support and teach young musicians from difficult backgrounds in Brazil. His initiative has gained visibility and interest on major TV channels in Brazil, including a documentary of his life. With the belief that music should be accessible to everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or economical/financial class, together with his performing career, Nathan’s personal mission is to establish an institution for underprivileged music students and people of color in his hometown.

Since 2023, Nathan has been pursuing a degree at the New England Conservatory on full scholarship under the guidance of Donald Weilerstein and has been appointed as a Thomastik Infeld Artist.