Luis Almeida

Luis is an accomplished Brazilian cellist and winner of the prestigious Olivier Toni Award for prominence in musical artistry from the University of São Paulo, one of Latin America's top universities, where he earned his B.A. in Cello Performance.

Described as a versatile musician, Luis is sought after for diverse projects ranging from baroque performance to touring with jazz and alternative rock groups, while also founding two educational initiatives: Musical Gym, which helps students achieve high-level practice, and Cello em Pauta, focused on discussing cello history and craft.

Luis completed his master's degree at the University of Manitoba and is now pursuing doctoral research at McGill University, where he also coaches chamber music groups. His academic work explores the influence of folk music on Brazilian classical repertoire, reflecting his special admiration for composers Claudio Santoro, Francisco Mignone, and Villa-Lobos, while his practical artistry continues through the Acalanto Duo, which he formed in 2024 with Brazilian pianist Amanda Kohn to explore the rich plurality of Brazilian repertoire for cello and piano.