sylvia thereza
SYLVIA THEREZA
PIANIST
Brazilian pianist Sylvia Thereza was a close artistic collaborator of Maria João Pires for more than a decade, performing alongside her in concerts, educational projects and international tours throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. Invited by Pires to serve as Assistant Professor at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, she became part of one of the most distinguished artistic lineages of the European piano tradition.
Her artistic formation was further enriched by her work with some of the most distinguished pianists of their generation, notably Nelson Freire and Bella Davidovich, alongside encounters and studies with Earl Wild, Alan Weiss and Sergio Tiempo.
Today, Sylvia Thereza pursues an international career as a pianist, educator and artistic leader, guided by the conviction that music is not merely an art of performance, but a way of understanding the human condition. Whether on the concert stage or through international artistic initiatives, she conceives music as a living encounter between beauty, memory and human dignity.
At the heart of her artistic life lies the great Austro-German repertoire (particularly Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Mozart) alongside a deep commitment to Brazilian music and chamber repertoire. Rather than presenting programmes as collections of masterpieces, she conceives each performance as a carefully crafted artistic journey, inviting audiences into a dialogue between music, philosophy and the human experience.
Her international career has taken her throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She has appeared with orchestras including the Brussels Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (OSESP), Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Simon Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, Hannover Chamber Orchestra, among many other distinguished ensembles.
As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists including Maria João Pires, Daniel Hope, Augustin Dumay, Ning Kam, Misha Taits and Sting. Her collaboration with violinist Daniel Hope led to the Deutsche Grammophon release America, featuring her own piano arrangement of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, performed alongside Hope and Joy Denalane.
Among her early distinctions are First Prize at the Nelson Freire Piano Competition in Rio de Janeiro, chaired by Nelson Freire; First Prize at the Gina Bachauer Competition (Latin America); and the Jury prize at the International Piano Competition of Vigo, chaired by Martha Argerich.
The Belgian Government recognised Sylvia's artistic contribution by granting her the distinction of Exceptional Experience and Notoriety. She is Professor of Piano at LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, one of the country's leading conservatoires and a member of the KU Leuven Association.
Deeply rooted in the great European piano tradition while maintaining a strong commitment to Brazilian culture, Sylvia Thereza believes that music finds its deepest meaning in the quality of listening it awakens. This conviction continues to shape her work as performer, educator, artistic director and cultural leader.
Beyond the concert stage, Sylvia is the founder and Artistic Director of Uaná – Association for the Arts, a Belgium-based platform dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural diplomacy and arts education. Bringing together internationally recognised artists, educators and institutions, Uaná develops concerts, educational programmes, recordings and international collaborations that expand access to high-level artistic experiences. Its initiatives have reached more than 30,000 children and young people in Brazil, Belgium and Africa.
“I was profoundly struck by the sensitivity and the very particular personality of this young pianist who moved me deeply and I dare foresee a brilliant career thanks to all her great artistic qualities.”
Teresa Berganza
