Mafalda Santos

Praised for her compelling artistry and warmth of expression, Portuguese cellist Mafalda Santos brings to her teaching the same musical depth and attentiveness that define her performances. She embraces a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator, and is passionate about helping students of all ages develop an expressive, sustainable, and informed approach to playing.

Mafalda currently serves as Cello Community Lead at tonebase, where she curates livestreams, creates educational content, and connects players around the world through meaningful online learning. Her teaching experience spans international festivals such as the Lyra Music Festival, Vivace International Music Festival, ContemporArt Chamber Music Festival, Kneisel Hall Adult Chamber Music Institute, and the Chamber Music Perspectives Workshop. She has served as a Secondary/Undergraduate Cello Teacher at Yale University and as the Cello Studio Assistant in Technique at the Peabody Institute. Mafalda regularly leads masterclasses across Europe and the United States, working with students ranging from adult beginners to conservatory-level performers. Her coaching approach integrates historical context, body awareness, and a deep emphasis on musical storytelling.

A prizewinner in over 20 cello competitions, Mafalda made her solo debut at age fourteen and has since appeared as a soloist with orchestras across Europe and the US. She has performed at venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Berliner Philharmoniker, and Centro Cultural de Belém, and recently collaborated with artists including Ani Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, Amit Peled, and Tony Arnold.

Originally from Portugal, Mafalda is a doctoral candidate at Yale University, and splits her time between the United States, United Kingdom, and Portugal. She performs on a Jeffrey Muller cello, generously loaned by the Maestro Foundation.