Mario DaSilva
Biography
Mario DaSilva has been performing since the age of 10. He began his career in Church Music in the areas of Gospel, Blues and Pop, all of which have led to the beginning of his formal training in Classical and Commercial Guitar at the age of 15 with Maestro Salvador Violla and later with Sr. Edmar Fenicio. He then worked as a songwriter, arranger and session musician in his hometown. Before coming to the U.S. Mr. DaSilva wrote and recorded the hit Pop/Christian song "Sinais dos Tempos" which is still popular in the churches nationwide in Brazil.
Mario DaSilva immigrated to the United States by winning the highest scholarship at Belmont University and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Music with emphasis in Commercial Guitar, (Mr. John Pell), Composition and Arrangement, (Dr. Bill Pursell). His Master Degree comes from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with honors as a student of Church Music and Classical Guitar Performance, (Mr. Douglas Jones).
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Mr. DaSilva brings his native Brazilian influence that blends with the Nashville scene on stage and in studios. He is a capable producer, arranger, and composer along with being a respected guitarist.
Mario is a confident and successful performer in Classical, Brazilian Jazz, Pop, R&B and Flamenco music. He has arranged for Country artists Lari White, Chuck Cannon, and played gigs with Little Big Town, Barbara Mandrell, Victor Wooten, Annie Moses Band, Phil Keaggy, Muriel Anderson, Michael Omartian, Flamenco Dancer Felipe Delarossa and Opera superstar Denyce Graves. He also has performed with The Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra, Jonesboro Symphony, Nashville String Machine, Indiana University Southeast and Belmont University Symphonic Orchestras.
One of his recent projects includes the scoring of a full productions of "Ferdinand the Bull" commissioned for the Nashville Ballet which is performed in concert halls and in public schools. He also scored a full production for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival Association’s production of “Tempest”.
In the past fifteen years Mario released five quite successful CDs which are enjoyed nationwide as well as overseas, in the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, Russia, Europe and Latin America. Besides being a performer, Mario is an effective music educator and clinician involved in multiple educational events locally and countrywide. For years, he has been a part of Belmont University and Indiana University Southeast Guitar Departments.