Nathan Amaral is this year's feature artist. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Nathan’s journey into music began at the age of twelve through a social project in the favela of Mangueira, where he was the only student to continue pursuing music. His life and work inspired the creation of his own festival, the Week of Musical Integration, aimed at providing music education to young musicians from underprivileged backgrounds in Brazil. Nathan’s mission to make music accessible to all, regardless of background, is at the core of his work. 

Known for his technical ability and emotional depth, Nathan is celebrated for transcending technique to reach the heart of musical expression. His unique style has earned him high praise from some of the world’s most respected artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, who described him as “one of the rare musicians who not only possesses the gift of ample technical ability but uses it to transcend technique, getting to the heart and soul of musical expression.”

Nathan was recently awarded the Grand Prize of both the Concert Artist Guild (CAG) and Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) competitions.  He was also the first prize winner of the 2024 Sphinx Competition and has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. His performances have graced some of the world’s most prestigious venues, such as the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, KKL at Lucerne Festival, and Symphony Hall in Boston. His recent engagements include solo performances with the Chineke! Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s Southbank Centre and his Decca debut album recording with Chineke!