Peter M. Ferreira
Encyclopedia
Peter Ferreira Critically acclaimed concert violinist, recording artist and author, and has been a very active violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist since the age of 6. Greatly inspired by his grandfather who was himself a violinist. He entered the Conservatório Regional De Música in Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where he studied with teacher Dário Peixoto and later made his concerto debut at age 8.
Peter Ferreira is described in Comunidades USA Magazine as one of the most celebrated Portuguese-born violinist of the modern era... Since a very young age, Peter spent his formative years training as a classical musician, surrounded by many of the violin masters of the ages. Although classically trained, Peter's crossover performances include music from the classical masterpieces to pop, rock, world music and Latin repertoire to name a few and as opted to "blend" the new and the old together. He is highly regarded as a virtuoso soloist on a symphonic stage, but equally as comfortable in front of a club audience with is band behind him. Ferreira has received various awards during his years in high school and college while studying with great violinists such as Joel Pitchon, Mara Milkis, Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
, Erick Friedman, and Joey Corpus
Joey Corpus
Joey Corpus is a prominent violin teacher living in New York City.He studied the violin in Philadelphia with the late Jascha Brodsky. He was also influenced by Nelly Soregi and Alberto Lysy. He studied chamber music with Orlando Cole, among others....
. He as also participated in master classes with Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
.
From J.S. Bach to Piazzolla, Peter's seasoned golden tone performances have an abundant hot Mediterranean influence, sure to captivate the audience!
As a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
, Mr. Ferreira is praised for his beautiful tone, virtuosity and unforgettable heart-rending performances. He has performed at numerous concert venues and with various orchestras and ensembles in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He has performed as soloist and maintained the position of Concert Master or Assistant Concert Master for a number of professional orchestras in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and for the Nutmeg Opera Orchestra. He also founded the Dresden String Quartet in 1998, and performed as its first violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist through 2002.
Finally, Mr. Ferreira is an active freelance musician and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. In 2003, one of his personal compositions was featured in a video documentary about the underwater exploration of the German U853 submarine which sank off the Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
coast during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As an independent artist, Mr. Ferreira teaches privately, lectures, and conducts master classes at different schools and through his private studio. He has also recorded numerous CDs, two of them in his own studio and now under his own independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
AEMINIUM Records. In addition, he has been equally in demand as a soloist and recording artist. During the next season, Peter will continue to expand his presence on the concert stage with a series of important orchestral debuts and recital tours. Mr. Ferreira is also a published author and columnist for Mundo Portugues and Comunidades-USA Magazines. His books are available on Amazon and at other book retailers.
Childhood and early beginnings
The oldest of 2 children born to Renato Ferreira and Maria C. Ferreira, both of Portuguese descent, Peter Ferreira was raised a Roman Catholic in a humble, but, by his own account, happy home in Coimbra, Portugal. From an early age Ferreira had dreamed of being a concert violinist. In a 2010 interview with Mudo Portugues, he recalled, "I missed my grandfather very much... He was a violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist himself. ...I had one dream: I wanted to be a great violinist." At age 8, Peter performed his first concert at the music conservatory's recital hall.
Artistry and image
Peter grew up listening to mainly classical music but has also stated he grew up listening to artists such as Queen, Janis Joplin, the Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Police and many others. He also was very inspired by violinists like David OistrakhDavid Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
and Fritz Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler
Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately...
whom Ferreira's golden tone has often been compared to. His music has been influenced by numerous genres, including classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
traditional, Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Piazzolla
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
and world music.
Personal life
Peter Ferreira is married to Bee Suarez and they have three children, Carlos Ferreira, Lucas Ferreira and Oliver Ferreira.Discography
- Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) - Antonio VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
- Sonata No.5, Opus 24 "Spring Sonatas" - L. Van Beethoven
- A collection of Traditional Pieces and works by Portuguese composers
- Mozart Violin Sonatas
- Various EncoreEncore (concert)An encore is an additional performance added to the end of a concert, from the French "encore", which means "again", "some more"; multiple encores are not uncommon. Encores originated spontaneously, when audiences would continue to applaud and demand additional performance from the artist after the...
pieces including works by Massenet, Tchaikovsky, BachBạchBạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
, De FallaFallaFalla is a locality situated in Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 463 inhabitants in 2005....
, P. Sarasate, GranadosEnrique GranadosEnrique Granados y Campiña was a Spanish pianist and composer of classical music. His music is in a uniquely Spanish style and, as such, representative of musical nationalism...
, Ástor PiazzollaÁstor PiazzollaÁstor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music...
and much more. - Selected works from the J. S. Bach Sonatas and Partitas
The violin
Mr. Ferreira performs on a certified, early 19th century Jon. Bapt. Schweitzer violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
.
External links
- Official website
- Aeminium Records (Ind. label)