Bruno Silva

Bruno Silva – Began studying viola in 2004 in his native Brazil at the Escola de Musica de Brasilia.  After one year, he placed in a solo competition and had the opportunity to perform with the Orquestra Sinfonica da Escola de Musica de Brasilia, performing the G Major Viola Concerto by Telemann.  He graduated from the conservatory in two and a half years, a program which normally takes eight years, and then enrolled in the University of Brasilia.

Bruno has gained much experience as and orchestral and chamber musician.  As viola principal, he performed with the Bensenville Chamber Orchestra, Renovo String Orchestra, North Park University Symphony Orchestra, Brasilia Philharmonic, University of Brasilia String Orchestra, Art-Brasilia Orchestra, among others.  As section player, Bruno has worked with the Orquestra Sinfonica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro (one of Brazilian’s top Orchestras), Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Logan Chamber Players, among others.  As a soloist, Bruno has won top prizes and has performed with Midwest Young Artists, Orquestra Sinfonica da Escola de Musica de Brasilia, North Park University Symphony Orchestra, Mode Ensemble and the Orquestra Art-Brasilia.  He performed at various orchestras in both summer and winter music festivals.

Bruno worked under conductors such as Cliff Colnot, Ricardo Muti, Susanna Malkki, Alastair Willis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Mark Elder, Sir Andrew Davis, Jaap Van Zweden,  Mei-Ann Chen, Alex Klein, Harry Bicket, among others. With the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Bruno had the opportunity of working closely with Yo-Yo Ma.  Since 2006 Bruno has been teaching violin and viola.  Bruno was a founding member of the YOURS (Youth Orchestra Urban Rita Simon) Project Chicago, which is a music program for unprivileged students, where he worked until 2012. Bruno Completed his undergraduate in music performance at North Park University where he studied with Charles Pikler, Chicago Symphony principal viola and his MM at DePaul University, studying with Rami Solomonow, Lyric Opera of Chicago former viola principal and current Chicago Chamber Players musician. Bruno was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons.  Today Bruno is a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Project Inclusion, Principal Violist of Skokie Valley Symphony, and a freelance violist. He plays in many Orchestras around Chicago area.  Bruno also teaches private lessons and judges many student competitions.

Photo by Marcello Rodarte.