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Brazilian cellist, teacher and composer Bianca d’Avila do Prado is Traditional and Suzuki cello faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and Online Instructor for the University of Idaho Preparatory Division. She is also the coordinator of the MIC Third Coast Suzuki Strings, a tuition-free outreach program for the community in Evanston, IL.
Brazilian cellist, teacher and composer Bianca d’Avila do Prado is Traditional and Suzuki cello faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and Online Instructor for the University of Idaho Preparatory Division. She is also the coordinator of the MIC Third Coast Suzuki Strings, a tuition-free outreach program for the community in Evanston, IL.
Ms. Prado holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy degree from Illinois State University. At ISU, she completed her cello studies under Dr. Adriana Ransom and Dr. Cora Swenson-Lee, receiving a scholarship to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the ISU String Project, and was the ISU Symphony Orchestra Principal Cello.
Ms. Prado holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy degree from Illinois State University. At ISU, she completed her cello studies under Dr. Adriana Ransom and Dr. Cora Swenson-Lee, receiving a scholarship to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the ISU String Project, and was the ISU Symphony Orchestra Principal Cello.
Bianca was recently nominated as a Suzuki Association of the Americas "Distinguished Young Teacher" award recipient and was recognized alongside other Suzuki teachers at the 2024 ASTA/SAA Conference in Louisville, KY. She was also a recipient of the Music Institute of Chicago 2023 Teacher of Note Award, presented to teachers who represent the excellence of the entire MIC’s internationally acclaimed, award-winning faculty, demonstrating dedication, enthusiasm and inspiration in their teaching.
Her Suzuki Teaching Training Courses include Suzuki Philosophy with Dr. Shinobu Saito and Eduardo Ludueña and Every Child Can with Edward Kreitman. She also took Suzuki Cello Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Dr. David Evenchick, Unit 5, 6, 7 and 8 with Dr. Tanya Carey, Units 9/10 with Avi Friedlander and Revisiting Unit 1 with Sally Gross. She was part of the “Clases Grupales” training with Andrea Spinzo, “Setting Up Families for Success” seminar with Christine Goodner. She also attended the Group Class Techniques course with Carey Beth Hockett and Cello Practicum with Nancy Hair, both at the Chicago Suzuki Institute.
Her Suzuki Teaching Training Courses include Suzuki Philosophy with Dr. Shinobu Saito and Eduardo Ludueña and Every Child Can with Edward Kreitman. She also took Suzuki Cello Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Dr. David Evenchick, Unit 5, 6, 7 and 8 with Dr. Tanya Carey, Units 9/10 with Avi Friedlander and Revisiting Unit 1 with Sally Gross. She was part of the “Clases Grupales” training with Andrea Spinzo, “Setting Up Families for Success” seminar with Christine Goodner. She also attended the Group Class Techniques course with Carey Beth Hockett and Cello Practicum with Nancy Hair, both at the Chicago Suzuki Institute.
Bianca is a sought-after clinician and has taught masterclasses and workshops at the Eastman Cello Institute, the Suzuki Strings Festival in Peoria, the Illinois State University String Project Summer Camp and the First Sandpoint Summer Strings Festival. She was a guest teacher and lecturer at the XXI, XXII, XXIV and XV Encontro de Violoncelos, in Brazil. As an adjudicator, she was part of the committee for the 3rd Concurso Jovem Violoncelista Jean-Jacques Pagnot (BR) and the First Sandpoint Summer Strings Festival Adjudication (US).
Bianca is a sought-after clinician and has taught masterclasses and workshops at the Eastman Cello Institute, the Suzuki Strings Festival in Peoria, the Illinois State University String Project Summer Camp and the First Sandpoint Summer Strings Festival. She was a guest teacher and lecturer at the XXI, XXII, XXIV and XV Encontro de Violoncelos, in Brazil. As an adjudicator, she was part of the committee for the 3rd Concurso Jovem Violoncelista Jean-Jacques Pagnot (BR) and the First Sandpoint Summer Strings Festival Adjudication (US).
She got her Bachelor’s in Cello Performance in 2007, studying with Dr. Angela Ferrari at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, in Brazil. Ms. Bianca Prado’s works include six CD recordings with Camerata Ontoarte, two of them featuring the soprano Carla Maffioletti. With this group, she had the opportunity to perform concerts throughout several of Brazil’s capital cities and in Lodi, Italy and Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was also part of a project called A Lua de Santiago, recording a repertoire composed by Fernando Avila for accordion and string quintet. Bianca was part of the Theatro São Pedro Chamber Orchestra from 2011 to 2018 and worked with famous musicians such as pianist Nelson Freire and cellists Antonio Meneses and Norbert Anger, among others. She was also part of the Quatricelli Cello Quartet, winner of the Premio Funarte de Concertos Didaticos 2014. She taught cello at Escola Tio Zequinha, a Suzuki School in Porto Alegre from 2011 to 2018.
She got her Bachelor’s in Cello Performance in 2007, studying with Dr. Angela Ferrari at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, in Brazil. Ms. Bianca Prado’s works include six CD recordings with Camerata Ontoarte, two of them featuring the soprano Carla Maffioletti. With this group, she had the opportunity to perform concerts throughout several of Brazil’s capital cities and in Lodi, Italy and Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was also part of a project called A Lua de Santiago, recording a repertoire composed by Fernando Avila for accordion and string quintet. Bianca was part of the Theatro São Pedro Chamber Orchestra from 2011 to 2018 and worked with famous musicians such as pianist Nelson Freire and cellists Antonio Meneses and Norbert Anger, among others. She was also part of the Quatricelli Cello Quartet, winner of the Premio Funarte de Concertos Didaticos 2014. She taught cello at Escola Tio Zequinha, a Suzuki School in Porto Alegre from 2011 to 2018.
Ms. Prado started and headed the cello program at the Suzuki String Academy, in Sandpoint, ID. At SSA she taught private cello lessons, Cello Choir, Mommy and Me Cello Class, Beginner and Intermediate Chamber Ensembles, and idealized and conducted the Vivace Adult Cello Ensemble. She also taught Junior Orchestra at the Sandpoint Christian School and was the North Idaho Philharmonia principal cello.
Ms. Prado started and headed the cello program at the Suzuki String Academy, in Sandpoint, ID. At SSA she taught private cello lessons, Cello Choir, Mommy and Me Cello Class, Beginner and Intermediate Chamber Ensembles, and idealized and conducted the Vivace Adult Cello Ensemble. She also taught Junior Orchestra at the Sandpoint Christian School and was the North Idaho Philharmonia principal cello.
Bianca actively works on making Brazilian music for strings more accessible and performed in the US. Her article "Teaching Diversity: Four Brazilian Pieces for String Orchestra" was published in the Scroll Magazine from the Illinois ASTA in 2021. Another article, titled "Viajando Pelo Brasil I, Suite for Strings: A Fun way to Explore the Richness of Brazilian Culture and Music", was published in the American String Teacher Magazine in May 2022.
Bianca actively works on making Brazilian music for strings more accessible and performed in the US. Her article "Teaching Diversity: Four Brazilian Pieces for String Orchestra" was published in the Scroll Magazine from the Illinois ASTA in 2021. Another article, titled "Viajando Pelo Brasil I, Suite for Strings: A Fun way to Explore the Richness of Brazilian Culture and Music", was published in the American String Teacher Magazine in May 2022.
Bianca’s first composition “Brazilian Habanera” for strings won a competition promoted by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a prize awarded by the Sphinx Venture Fund and was published as part of the Mosaic: A Collection of String Music by Black and Latino Composers.
Bianca’s first composition “Brazilian Habanera” for strings won a competition promoted by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a prize awarded by the Sphinx Venture Fund and was published as part of the Mosaic: A Collection of String Music by Black and Latino Composers.
In 2023, she was one of the composers commissioned by the Cello Teaching Repertoire Consortium to write an intermediate piece for cello, targeting students around Suzuki Book 3/4 level. Her Suite Pequenina, written in 5 movements, features Latin-American rhythms and styles. Bianca taught a Premiere Masterclass Workshop at the Eastman Cello Institute, where she worked with students playing her Suite. She performed Suite Pequenina in the Grainger Ballroom at the Chicago Symphony Center in 2025.
In 2023, she was one of the composers commissioned by the Cello Teaching Repertoire Consortium to write an intermediate piece for cello, targeting students around Suzuki Book 3/4 level. Her Suite Pequenina, written in 5 movements, features Latin-American rhythms and styles. Bianca taught a Premiere Masterclass Workshop at the Eastman Cello Institute, where she worked with students playing her Suite. She performed Suite Pequenina in the Grainger Ballroom at the Chicago Symphony Center in 2025.
She was also selected to be part of the New Canon Project's first cohort, being mentored by composer Nicolas Repetto and commissioned to compose Valsa para Sofia for strings, premiered at the ASTA Conference 2024 Welcoming Experience by the National Teachers' Orchestra under Tamara Dworetz.
She was also selected to be part of the New Canon Project's first cohort, being mentored by composer Nicolas Repetto and commissioned to compose Valsa para Sofia for strings, premiered at the ASTA Conference 2024 Welcoming Experience by the National Teachers' Orchestra under Tamara Dworetz.
Her article "Setting Habits for Success: How Being a Suzuki Student Can Transform Your Child’s Brain" was published in the American Suzuki Journal in November 2021.
Her article "Setting Habits for Success: How Being a Suzuki Student Can Transform Your Child’s Brain" was published in the American Suzuki Journal in November 2021.
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