Mariama Alcântara

MARIAMA Alcântara
Born in Brazil, violinist Mariama Alcântara grew up in a musical family. Following her solo debut at the age of 12 with the Paraiba Symphony Orchestra, she engaged in numerous performances across the Americas and Europe.

Mariama has been a member of several orchestras in the United States, including the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra. Presently, she is performing as a member of the Iris Chamber Orchestra.
Passionate about improving equality and diversity in classical music, Mariama worked with the Boulanger Initiative as a researcher, an advocate of women composers based in Washington D.C. The Initiative promotes music composed by women through performance, education, commissions, and consultations.
Festivals appearances include Mozarteum Summer Academy (Austria), Rencontres Musicales Internationales en Graves (France), Sphinx NAAS Audition Intensive, Dalí Quartet International Chamber Music Festival, Wintergreen Summer Academy, Virtuosi (Brazil), and Penn’s Woods Festival. Mariama has collaborated with the Aizuri Quartet and shared the stage with the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Snoop Dog, Corky Siegel, as well as many Brazilian artists. Holding an interest for all aspects of the arts industry, her recent engagements include Personnel Manager and Librarian for Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra.
Upon graduating with her bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Dr. Soh-Hyun Altino at the University of Memphis, Mariama won the position of Artist Fellow with the Iris Chamber Orchestra where she received mentorship from conductor Michael Stern and several visiting artists. She was also a member of the inresidence string trio, performing outreach concerts regularly, planning and implementing community-based music projects and activities.
She received her master’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University as a student and teaching assistant of Professor James Lyon. A 2019 recipient of the prestigious Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Fellowship, Mariama earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder as a student and teaching assistant of Professor Harumi Rhodes of the Takács Quartet.