Inspired by music and supported by her family, Gabriela Lopes found a promising future in the Ramacrisna Orchestra.
Gabriela Maria Vieira Lopes’ story is an inspiring example of how music can transform lives. She joined the Ramacrisna Institute Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013, when she was just 8 years old. Twelve years later, the young woman is studying music at university and has found her passion in the violin.
Gabriela was only eight years old when she felt something different. Her heart beat faster when she saw the musicians playing during a walk with her mother. “I was walking down the street with my mother and saw the people from the Orchestra playing. So I told my mother that I wanted to play there too,” Gabriela recalls.
Read more about her story below.
Encouraged by her parents, Roldão Teixeira and Celma Lopes, Gabriela tried out for the Orchestra. At the time, conductor Sebastião led the group. He was the one who took Gabriela’s entrance test. Because she was small, she couldn’t hold a standard-sized violin. But the girl’s grandmother, Geni, wanted to see her granddaughter happy. So, as a gesture of support and encouragement, she bought Gabriela a smaller violin, allowing her to begin her journey in music.
Over the years, Gabriela has received not only musical training, but also emotional support and inspiration from her teachers. “My teachers were my inspiration and to see them playing and being able to turn a simple note into the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, that’s just wonderful,” she says.
She fondly recalls the impact of the Barros brothers, whose stories and technical skills motivated her to persist even in moments of insecurity. One of the most memorable moments was watching her teacher Lucas Barros play “Quem sabe?”, by Antônio Carlos Gomes, as a tribute to Dona Maria Aparecida Barros. “His playing manages to make the music embrace and comfort us, listening to him play gives me enormous pride, an explosion of happiness and emotion, and above all it makes me want to live,” says Gabriela.
Another highlight of her career was the encouragement of her teacher Elias, who helped her overcome her shyness and believe in her potential. He was instrumental in Gabriela deciding to go to university, something that had previously seemed distant due to her insecurity about her musical talent. “I’m quite shy and find it difficult to take exams and tests because I don’t feel I’m good enough to play, but Elias has always motivated me to take exams, both for competitions and music festivals,” she explains.
When she reached the end of high school, Gabriela had no doubts when it came to choosing her university. She entered the Music course at the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG). In classes, she not only found musical maturity, but also personal growth. This is because she began to socialize with other students and teachers and broadened her world view, especially with the help of lecturer Rodrigo Bustamante, who is a violinist in the Minas Gerais Philharmonic.
“At university I learned to be more responsible and more mature on the instrument. It’s been very good for me to socialize with other people and live in the same environment as other people,” she says. This new cycle has also helped her overcome the shame of performing in public, making her more confident and fulfilled.
Today, Gabriela celebrates achievements that include playing with renowned artists, taking part in tours and living unforgettable moments provided by music. “I never imagined that I would be able to get to where I am today, attending college, playing with renowned artists and taking part in traveling tours is a wonderful feeling,” she says. Her story is proof that projects like the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra go far beyond music education: they inspire dreams, create opportunities and transform lives.
The Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra’s mission is to promote social inclusion through music, offering quality training and opportunities for personal development for children and young people. With the project, musicians attend music theory and practice classes on string, wind and percussion instruments. In this way, new talents are discovered and lives, like Gabriela’s, are transformed.
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