Born and raised in Fortaleza, Brazil, countertenor Antonio Souza has been interested in music since childhood. His first practical experience came at 16 when he joined a choir group from high school. Persistent, he has been improving ever since.

 

From 2004 to 2010 he took part in the Choir of the Federal University of Ceará (Coral da UFC), which develops scenic choral work with emphasis on Brazilian Regional Music. During this period, he performed in Brazil and in Europe, in countries such as Germany, France and Poland. 

 

Antonio studied classical singing with Brazilian male soprano Hamilton Carvalho, who majored in Voice Performance in Canada. He also had lessons with professionals both from Brazil and from overseas, such as André Vidal (Brazil), Angelo Dias (Brazil), Graciela Araya (Chile / Germany), Janette Dornellas (Brazil), Kathy Price (USA), Liliana Bizineche (Portugal), Linus Lerner (Brazil/USA), Marília Álvares (Brazil), Mimmi Fulmer (USA), Mirella Cavalcante (Brazil), Tatiana Vanderlei (Brazil/Italy), Thom Warren (USA), Véronique Elling (France) and with the Quarteto Colonial (Brazil), who encouraged him to seek specific academic training in classical singing abroad.

 

Antonio got a degree in Music Education from the Federal University of Ceará. He has been performing as a soloist in Brazil with pianists and orchestras, such as the Symphony Orchestra of the State University of Ceará (OSUECE). He has also been working as a vocal coach in vocal groups and choirs, and he has been teaching individual students. 

 

Antonio has attended voice courses and classical music festivals, such as the International Winter Festival in Campos do Jordão (São Paulo, Brazil), one of the most important in Latin America and the Oaxaca Opera Festival, in Mexico.

 

Mr. Souza is pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States. He was a recipient of the Voice Excellence Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship during fall 2014 and spring 2015. For the academic year of 2015-2016 he has been working as a Teaching Assistant of Voice.