Born in Pernambuco, Brazilian cellist Leonardo Altino began his musical studies at the age of six and gave his orchestral debut performing the Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1 at age eleven. His national breakthrough came when Leonardo was the youngest winner at the Jovens Concertistas Brasileiros, a prestigious competition in Rio de Janeiro, which led to performances with every major orchestra in his home country. Praised by the Strad Magazine for his “exceptional musical intelligence and an exceptionally cultivated sound,” Leonardo was the First Prize winner at the International Cello Competition in Viña Del Mar, and has since appeared as soloist and in recitals throughout Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela and the United States. A dedicated pedagogue, Leonardo has taught in numerous festivals around the world and was recently appointed Associate Lecturer of Music at Wheaton College in Chicago. Leonardo studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, the Detmold Musihöchschule, and the University of Illinois. His main teachers include Francisco Pino, Aldo Parisot, Marcio Carneiro, Suren Bagratuni and Laurence Lesser. He presently resides in Madison with his wife, violinist Soh-Hyun Park Altino and son, David.
