I was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1954. I began my musical studies with my father, José Martins de Mattos, a well-known violin teacher and performer. After concluding my Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance from Fundação Universidade Mineira de Artes, in 1980, I spent two years in Paris, where I studied violin and chamber music with Marie-Louise and Serge Hurel, at Ecole Normale de Musique.
From 1985 to 1995, I lived in the United States, first as a student and later, as a professional musician. My academical accomplishments there include: "Master of Arts" in violin performance, under Leopold La Fosse, at The University of Iowa; "Master of Music" in viola performance, under Pamela Ryan; and "Doctor of Music" in violin performance, under Elliot Chapo, at Florida State University. As a professional violinist and violist, I played in several symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles both, in the United States and in Brazil.
As a viola teacher, I worked for four years as an Assistant Professor, at Valdosta State University, in the State of Georgia. In 1995, I returned to my native country, and since 1996, I am an Associate Professor of Viola, at the School of Music of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
In 1999, I began a research project on contemporary bows, especially French, for the Graduate Department of Music of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. My research project is titled Contemporary French Bowmaking Aspects.