Stela Brandão was born in Rio de Janeiro and started her voice studies with Vanda Oiticica at the Brasilia Music School.  She completed her advanced studies at the University of Brasilia with Professor Sonia Born.

Dr. Brandão was one of the founding members of the “Brasilia Opera Association”; she had a distinguished association with the musical and theatrical life of that city until she moved to the United States where she has lived since 1981. 

She earned her masters in music at the conservatory at the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.  She earned her doctorate in musical education from the Teachers College of Columbia University in New York.  Her dissertation dealt with Brazilian song using examples selected from the vocal work of Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Her activities in voice teaching have been focused on the dissemination of the Brazilian repertory.  She has been a member of NATS since 1998 and is also a member of the “Brazilian Song Association” (the ABC in Portuguese).   Dr. Brandão currently teaches a course about the African roots of Brazilian music at Hunter College in New York.

To contact Dr. Brandão please write to: sbrandao@nyc.rr.com