Welson Alves Tremura

Dr. Welson Tremura is a professor in the School of Music and the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida, where he specializes in musicology and ethnomusicology. His work centers on Brazilian musical traditions, especially the relationships between music and religion in popular Catholic practices such as folia de reis (Three Kings celebrations), and he has published extensively on these topics in books and book chapters.

He directs the Brazilian Music Institute (BMI), a program he founded in 2001 that offers intensive training in Brazilian instrumental and vocal repertoires through workshops, masterclasses, and collaborative performances with guest artists from Brazil and the United States. Each year, BMI brings together students, faculty, and professional musicians for a concentrated period of rehearsals and instruction focused on Brazilian music and culture.

Dr. Tremura also serves as director of the Florida-Brazil Linkage Institute (FBLI), which administers out-of-state tuition exemptions for eligible Brazilian students pursuing undergraduate or graduate study at Florida’s public institutions, thereby strengthening academic and cultural partnerships between Brazil and Florida. At UF, he teaches courses in ethnomusicology, Latin American music, world music, applied fieldwork, and Brazilian guitar and vocal repertoires, and he coordinates world music ensembles, including a Brazilian ensemble that showcases diverse Brazilian genres.

As a performing artist, he is recognized for integrating classical guitar and voice in concert programs that highlight Brazilian repertoire, notably bossa nova and his own compositions, in venues ranging from university stages to major concert halls. His performances and collaborative projects—with artists in the United States, Brazil, and beyond—complement his academic work by promoting Brazilian and Latin American music in local, national, and international settings.