Matias de Oliveira Pinto, a distinguished Brazilian cello professor, died in a car accident in Berlin on February 4, 2025. At 64, he was a respected educator at Berlin University of the Arts and Münster University of Music. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the global music community, highlighting his contributions and influence.
Matias de Oliveira Pinto, a Brazilian cello professor, tragically died in a car accident in Berlin on February 4, 2025, at the age of 64. He was affiliated with both Berlin University of the Arts and Münster University of Music, where students learned of his passing through Barbara Plenge, the vice dean for studies and teaching. The university has provided counseling for those impacted by his death.
Pinto was born on July 14, 1960, in São Paulo, Brazil, to set designer Cyro del Nero and brother of ethnomusicologist Tiago de Oliveira Pinto. He began cello and piano studies early and became a teacher at the Paraná School of Music at just 18. With a scholarship from the Herbert von Karajan Foundation, he honed his skills at prestigious institutions, including the Berlin University of the Arts and the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, studying under notable cellists such as Csaba Onczay.
The death of Matias de Oliveira Pinto is a significant loss to the music community, given his contributions and the impact he made during his tenure as a professor and performer. His legacy will live on through his teachings and performances, which reached audiences worldwide. Tributes have underscored the profound shock and sadness felt within the classical music world.
Original Source: www.thestrad.com