Camila O. — Flute Teacher — Outremont, Montreal

I started music studies in Brazil when I was thirteen years old. Participating in important music festivals receiving lessons from fantastic musicians gave me some desire to explore the musical world. I’ve played in the community and symphony bands that gave a rich cultural foundation and experience. While being part of this unique experience, I attended the Conservatório Dramático e Musical Dr. Carlos de Campos de Tatuí, the most famous music conservatory in Brazil dedicated to teaching young students to become professional artists. At the conservatory, I developed technical music skills and had the opportunity to enjoy several international festivals, including travel to Italy for a summer festival with a scholarship; Accademia Musicale Estiva di Villa Bernocchi. I got my Bachelor of Music in Performance at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), a renowned public university in Brazil. While earning the bachelor's degree, I discovered a love for chamber music and was the principal flutist at Banda Municipal de Cosmópolis. After graduating, I applied for the Escola Municipal de Música de São Paulo (EMMSP), where I had the opportunity to play at the Symphonic Band of EMMSP. Also, at the municipal school, I had lessons with Jose Ananias (São Paulo Symphony - OSESP), who assisted me in applying for a master’s degree program in the U.S. I hold a Master’s degree in Music Performance at Portland State University in Portland, OR under the guidance of Dr. Sydney Carlson. Also, I completed the DEPA at Montreal University under the guidance of Denis Bluteau.

My principle is inspiring students to follow their leads in expressing themselves through their music skills. People who decide to do it through music achieve one of their most profound awareness of their representation inside their world. The sensibility that music brings to a person allows connecting with people and their environment. I believe that this connection is so empathic that people are more likely to build a better tomorrow for their community. The students have to develop skills such as organization, discipline, and mapping their bodies to make music, reflecting in all the facets of their lives. I love to participate in the students' learning process. This lovely instrument, the flute, permits us to connect better with ourselves. For each student, I learn more and more about myself.