Matilde Margalho, born on October 27, 2006, in Santa Maria da Feira, began studying violin at the age of four at the Academia de Música de Santa Maria da Feira. In 2020, she joined the Escola Profissional de Música de Espinho, under the guidance of professor Nuno Soares, graduating in 2024 with perfect grade. She is currently studying with professor Michael Foyle at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne.
Throughout her academic journey, she has received multiple merit and excellence diplomas. Since the age of seven, she has participated in several orchestra internships, including the Junior Music Festival, Orquestra ENSEMBLE, Academia de Música de Costa Cabral, Camerata Atlântica, Orquestra Clássica de Espinho, and the Youth Orchestra of Santa Maria da Feira.
In May 2023, after auditions, she was selected to perform as a soloist with the Orquestra Clássica de Espinho, under the baton of Maestro Pedro Neves, where she performed the first movement of Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. In September 2023, she appeared as a soloist with the Gulbenkian Orchestra at the Grande Auditório of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, conducted by Maestro Jean-Marc Burfin. In May 2024, she performed at the Wiener Saal in Salzburg, accompanied on piano by Felix Ardanaz.
She frequently participates in MasterClasses conducted by renowned international professors and performers, such as Esther Haffner (after a selection process), Michael Foyle, Gerardo Ribeiro, Nuno Soares, José Pereira, Yuri Zhislin, Aleksey Semenenko, Ana Manzanilla, Lilit Davtyan, André Gaio Pereira, Lígia Soares, Nuno Meira, Tiago Neto, Vitor Vieira, Juan Maggiorani, Anne Victorino D’Almeida, David Léfevre, Boris Kuchnir (after a selection process; Madrid), Mayuko Kanio, Elicia Silverstein, among others.
Whenever possible, she participates in social events: XI Education Conference, promoted by the Santa Maria da Feira City Council in October 2017; Mosaico Social (III and V), promoted by the Santa Maria da Feira City Council in 2015 and 2017; and Aproarte (Concert in support of Ukraine at Casa da Música) in March 2022.
She has won several first prizes in national and international competitions, including the Young Musicians Award; Vienna International Music Competition; International Competition Cidade do Fundão (Revelation Award); International Competition Paços’ Premium; National Competition Cidade do Montijo; Elisa Sousa Pedroso Competition; Capela Competition; Ilda Moura Award; International String Competition Artur Fernandes Fão; International Music Competition London; VI Mostra Musical do Eixo Atlântico. For the latter, she received a Commendation from the Santa Maria da Feira City Council for her musical achievements.
She was selected as concertmaster for the Summer Internship of the Junior Music Festival in July 2016 and July 2019, and for the III Internship for Children and Youth Orchestras of the Academia de Música Costa Cabral in May 2016. After auditions, she was selected in July 2017 to join the Orquestra Sinfónica Ensemble for the 2017/2018 school year, being the youngest member. In May 2018, she joined the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Santa Maria da Feira, where she currently serves as concertmaster, working under the direction of Maestro Paulo Martins. After selection auditions, she was admitted to the Portuguese Philharmonic Academic Orchestra (January 2019) and the Portuguese Youth Orchestra (November 2020).
Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work with several conductors, including Jean-Marc Burfin, Pedro Neves, William Goodchild, Rita Castro Blanco, Diogo Costa, Giovanni Guzzo, Cesário Costa, Nuno Coelho, Jan Wierzba, Ernst Schelle, and José Eduardo Gomes.
She currently performs on a Capela violin, made in 2021.