When Gabriel Machado returned to Brazil after earning his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona School of Music in 2019, he faced a challenging reality: opportunities for choral conductors were extremely limited, and organized choral singing remained relatively uncommon in many parts of the country.
“It is very hard to find choral conducting jobs in Brazil,” Machado said. “Our choral singing culture is still very weak and unusual compared to other places.”
After applying for one of the few available positions—and finding that the compensation was not sustainable—Machado chose a different path: instead of waiting for institutional opportunities, he began creating them himself.
What started as an ambitious idea has since grown into a national movement reaching more than 46,000 participants across Brazil since 2019.
Machado is now the artistic director of several interconnected initiatives, including the National Virtual Choir of Brazil (Coral Nacional Virtual), the weekly in-person ensembles Alma Coralis and Lumen Coralis, and Vem Cantar, a touring one-day choir experience that brings singers together in cities throughout the country.
Together, these programs are designed to make choral singing more accessible, inclusive, and community-driven, welcoming participants of all ages and experience levels. Some one-day events have drawn thousands of singers, filling large auditoriums with multi-generational ensembles and creating shared musical experiences centered on participation and joy.
“We currently have 280 choir members that pay a membership fee to help make the projects and concerts happen,” Machado explained. “We don’t have sponsorship from companies or government organizations, but we have a team of around six people working daily to bring these projects to life.”
Initially hoping to establish a nonprofit, Machado instead founded a small independent company focused on expanding access to choral music through virtual choirs, weekly ensembles, and large-scale community singing events across Brazil. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his virtual choir projects helped connect singers online at a time when in-person music-making was impossible.
Despite the challenges, the work has continued to grow steadily. Machado notes that while tens of thousands have already participated, the broader mission is still unfolding.
“Brazil is quite large,” he said. “Even though 46,000 sounds like a lot, I hope to still reach many more people.”
His long-term goal is ambitious: to introduce one million people to choral singing by 2030.
For Machado, the focus extends beyond performance alone. His work centers on building connection, belonging, and accessibility through collective music-making—helping reshape how choral culture is experienced and shared across Brazil.
Through innovation, entrepreneurship, and a deep commitment to community engagement, Machado’s work demonstrates how University of Arizona alumni continue to create meaningful artistic and cultural impact worldwide.
You can follow his projects on Instagram at @maestrogabrielmachado