MATHEUS COELHO
Brazilian conductor, Matheus Coelho is a doctorate student at the University of Toronto.
Inspired by classical and Brazilian popular music, Matheus Coelho is a versatile conductor with a deep passion for music. Showcasing a diverse repertoire, his career spans symphonic, choral, and operatic performances, not only as a conductor but also as a singer and clarinetist. Matheus earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Manitoba, where he was mentored by Naomi Woo.
Matheus Coelho is a former student of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music (OSESP), led by the acclaimed American conductor Marin Alsop. Immersed in the vibrant daily life of São Paulo Hall, Matheus gained invaluable experience learning from distinguished musicians and renowned conductors, including Marin Alsop, Sian Edwards, Giancarlo Guerrero, Stefan Blunier, Neil Thomson, Alexander Liebreich, and Robert Treviño. Twice a fellow of the Campos do Jordão International Music Festival, also run by OSESP, Matheus was honored with a nomination for the Eleazar de Carvalho Prize.
Matheus Coelho is the founder and former Music Director of the Experimental Camerata of Campinas, an ensemble dedicated to exploring a wide range of classical and popular repertoire. Under his leadership, the Camerata performed in numerous venues, serving as both a traditional orchestra and a dynamic workshop for young conductors, soloists, and educational initiatives. A highly engaged conducting student, Matheus has also served as assistant conductor for esteemed ensembles, including the UNICAMP Symphony Orchestra and the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra.
Under the mentorship of maestro Angelo Fernandes, Matheus Coelho developed a profound connection with the vocal world. As an opera singer, he performed roles such as Barone Douphol in La Traviata and Maestro Spinelloccio and Ser Amantio di Nicolao in Gianni Schicchi with the UNICAMP Opera Studio, while also participating as a choir singer in productions of Don Giovanni, Dido and Aeneas, Die Zauberflöte, and Die Fledermaus. His passion for vocal music extended to his work with the Campinas Contemporary Choir (CCC), where he performed both a cappella and symphonic repertoire, ultimately concluding his time with the ensemble by conducting Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor.
Matheus Coelho is a doctoral student at the University of Toronto, focusing his research on Brazilian composers Chiquinha Gonzaga and Heitor Villa-Lobos. His work explores how the social and musical themes embedded in their compositions—such as issues of racism, misrepresentation, and the portrayal of Indigenous peoples—impact a conductor's preparation and performance practices.
Masterclasses
Marin Alsop, Giancarlo Guerrero, Sian Edwards, Catherine Larsen-Maguire, Wagner Polischuk, Stefan Blunier, Neil Thomson, Alexander Liebreich, Robert Trevino, Alexandra Arrieche, Fábio Mechetti, Alessandro Sangiorgi.
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Fellowships
Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music
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Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra Conducting Laboratory 2019
Campos do Jordão International Festival 2018 & 2019
Santo André Symphony Orchestra
Brasilia National Music Festical 2015
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Competitions
UNICAMP Young Musicians
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Campo Grande Concert Music Prize
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Awards
Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music Graduate Scholarship