Mafalda Santos

Bio

Praised for her compelling artistry and warmth, Portuguese cellist Mafalda Santos brings a deep commitment to sharing music worldwide. She pursues a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and advocate for inclusive musical experiences.

A prizewinner in over 20 cello competitions, Santos made her solo debut at fourteen with the FIME Ensemble and has since performed with orchestras across Europe and the U.S., including the Vigo Symphony, Ensemble Symphony, and Peabody Symphony. She has appeared at venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Berliner Philharmoniker, Centro Cultural de Belém, and Casa da Música, and featured on WQXR and Portugal’s Antena 2.

As a chamber musician, she co-founded the cello-bass duo On Fourth and Fifth, performing across the U.S., and has collaborated with Ani Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, Amit Peled, and Tony Arnold. She has held leadership roles with the Portuguese Philharmonic and Yale Philharmonic and recorded for Decca, Chandos, and CTM Classics.

A doctoral candidate at Yale, Santos plays a Jeffrey Muller cello on loan from The Maestro Foundation and leads masterclasses internationally, while championing community-centered music through organizations such as Our Joyful Noise and Creative Access.