About

Rafael Videira, DMA, has a diverse career as a teacher, performer, conductor, and administrator. He’s taught and performed in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany.

With over twenty years of experience, Dr. Videira has taught violin and viola students of all levels, from beginners to advanced players. His students have achieved significant success, winning competitions and gaining admission to prestigious institutions like The Manhattan School of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Jacobs School of Music (University of Indiana), and The Hartt School (University of Hartford).

Currently, he directs the orchestras at Manzano High School, and conducts the Albuquerque Youth Orchestra. He also teaches Suzuki group classes with the 505 Suzuki Collective, a cooperative of Suzuki string teachers that provide group classes, workshops, and performance opportunities to the community. In the Fall of 2025, he became the Executive Director of the International Suzuki Association (ISA). In 2026, he was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the NM-ASTA chapter. Before this, he taught and conducted at various institutions in Connecticut and Oregon.

In 2018, Dr. Videira was honored with the Suzuki Association of the America’s Certificate of Achievement, recognizing his dedication to teaching excellence within the Suzuki philosophy.

As a performer, he has played under renowned conductors (such as Kurt Masur and Helmuth Rilling) and participated in orchestral performances in touring many cities in Germany. In 2022, he was invited by the American Viola Society to be one of the recording artists featured in its album promoting music by underrepresented composers (released in October, 2023).

Dr. Videira holds a Doctoral degree in Viola Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oregon and a Masters degree in Performance from the University of New Mexico. He has received training in the Suzuki method and other pedagogical concepts from various experts in the field, such as Susan Kempter, Dr. Susan Baer, Dr. Robert Duke, Teri Einfeldt, Christie Felsing, Dr. Robert Gillespie, John Kendall, Lynn McCall, William Preucil, Sr., Elizabeth Stuen-Walker, and members of the Paul Rolland Society.

His teaching philosophy is available here.