Biography

Fernando Calixto was born in Uberaba on 27 July 1984. He began his musical education in Frutal ­ a small town in the sate of Minas Gerais where his family had moved to a few years earlier ­ with Prof. Eliane Lacerda.

Upon returning to his hometown, he went on to receive lessons from Prof. Silvio Robazzi at Renato Frateschi Conservatory and, in 2002 was accepted to Universidade de Brasilia (UnB), where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2006 having studied with Alla Dadaian, Daniel Tarquínio and Jaci Toffano.

The following year he moved to Russia having planed an internship for the duration of two months at the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, one of the most traditional educational institutions in the world and the first conservatory to be opened in Russia. Nevertheless, after the entrance examinations, and despite never having gone through the Preparatory Course which is generally indispensable for admission, he was invited to continue his studies, starting directly from the third year.

In 2010, Calixto became Master of Piano and was awarded the red diploma, granted only to students who scored maximum points on the final federal exams.

At this time, he graduated in Piano Performance from the Class of Nadezhda Eysmont, Chamber Music from the Class of Ivan Mikhailov, and Piano Accompaniment from the Class of Irina Kusonskaya.

In 2013, he obtained the title of Doctor of Excellence in Piano Performance from the same conservatory and, from 2010 to 2013 was engaged as Assistant Professor to Nadezhda Eysmont.

Currently Calixto advances his career both as soloist and chamber musician, performing through South America and Europe (Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Russia, Italy, Hungary, and others).

The pianist is also renowned for his work in the pedagogical field and as a piano teacher. He has given Master Classes and prepared students for concerts, exams and competitions. Recently he was invited to Quito, Ecuador to give Master Classes at the Fundación Casa de la Musica and the Conservatorio Mozart, and on October 2010, at Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile where he also performed at the Temporada Internacional de Música Clásica 2010 “Bicentenario: Chile y el Mundo”. He was jury for the 20^th International Dimitri Skostakovich Competition for young Pianists in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Fernando was professor for the Department of Music, Universidade de Brasilia (UnB) from 2015 to 2017.