ARTISTS 2024

Elise Pittenger is a cello professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), where she also coordinates the Chamber Music area and the Cello Group, and carries out a research project on Brazilian music for cello. Born in Baltimore, USA, she moved to Brazil in 2010 to join the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra, where she served as head of the cello section from 2011 to July 2015. Elise holds a Doctorate in Music Performance from McGill University (Canada), under the guidance of cellist Matt Haimovitz and a Master's degree from Rice University (USA), where he studied with Norman Fischer. She also holds a BA in Literature from Yale University (USA). Elise has extensive experience in chamber music, having been a member of the Haven String Quartet (USA) for two years; in Brazil she has worked with pianists Gustavo Carvalho and Rodrigo Miranda, percussionist Fernando Rocha (Duo Qattus) and colleagues at UFMG (Sonante 21). She has a strong interest in contemporary music and brings that interest to her work at UFMG, through research, academic subjects and collaborations with the field of composition.