Cellist Matias de Oliveira Pinto has Died, Aged 64

A beloved cello professor in Münster and Berlin, de Oliveira Pinto was killed in a car accident

The Brazilian cellist Matias de Oliveira Pinto was the victim of a car accident, and has passed away at the age of 64.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, De Oliveira Pinto studied with Zygmunt Kubala, at the Music Academy in Curitiba. Upon winning a scholarship from the Herbert von Karajan Foundation, he relocated to Europe, where he studied with Eberhard Finke (then Principal Cello of the Berlin Philharmonic) and then spent two years at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest learning from Csaba Onczay.

He appeared as a soloist throughout South America, Europe, the USA, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, and routinely appeared in Berlin's major concert halls. 

A renowned pedagogue, he taught at the Berlin Academy of Music and the Musikhochschule Münster. In addition, he was in demand as a leader of masterclasses and chamber music courses in Germany, France, Brazil, the USA, and Japan.

Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

"The Brazilian classical music community is in mourning with the death of cellist Matias de Oliveira Pinto," wrote the social media tribute account of cellist Antonio Meneses, who passed away in August of 2024. "We thank him for his art and legacy."

"I have very sad news to deliver: Matias de Oliveira Pinto was killed in a car accident during the night," wrote Barbara Plenge, vice dean for studies and teaching at Münster University of Music. The news was brought to the dean’s office of the School of Music by the police this morning. We are shocked, stunned and infinitely sad."