VICTOR DE ALMEIDA
 The double prize winner of the 2008 Primrose International Viola Competition, violist, Victor de Almeida, has recently been the Principal Violist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Paavo Järvi and the Associate Principal Violist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Mario Venzago. He studied at the Peabody Institute of Music, while serving as the Principal Violist of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and was a regular substitute violist with the Baltimore Symphony.
With the Cincinnati Symphony, in addition to the two European Tours, Victor has also performed for the Bejing Olympics celebration events in China. Recently he was the Guest Principal for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Principal Violist for the Castleton Opera Festival in Berkley under the baton of Lorin Maazel. While in Los Angeles , Mr. de Almeida frequently performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as the Principal of the New West Symphony.
     
While in Cincinnati, he has taught Master Classes at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and is currently on the String Faculty at Mount Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles. In addition to his numerous solo and chamber music performances, Victor also finds time to perform as a recording artist for Fox Television Network shows “Family Guy,” “Cleveland” and “American Dad.” He is also an avid collector of viola music and takes pride in performing those selections.