A versatile violist, Rafaell Altino feels comfortable as a recitalist, chamber musician, soloist, or playing in an orchestra. Currently in his 20th season as the principal violist of the Odense Symphony Orchestra, Denmark, Rafaell began his musical studies in his native country, Brazil, with his father Rafael Garcia at the age of 9. At the age of 17, he moved to the United States where he continued his musical education. He earned his Bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, and his Master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music, New York. He studied with Marylou Speaker Churchill, Burton Fine, Louis Krasner, and Samuel Rhodes. He furthered his studies in Germany at the Musikhochshule Köln with Rainer Moog, and at the Musikakademie in Detmold with Nobuko Imai. He is frequently invited to participate in international festivals and concerts, performing in various countries such as Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United States. His chamber music collaborations include artists like Nikolaj Znaider, Benjamin Schmidt, Ilya Gringolts, Antonio Meneses, Andreas Brantelid, Roland Pöntinen, Marianna Shirinyan, as well as the Henschel and Miró string quartets.