Matilde Lotti
We are happy to introduce the string part of our lineup. This year, the Italian Fusion Festival presents Matilde Lotti String Quartet.
Originally trained as a classical musician, Matilde Lotti has always felt the pull of jazz and vocal expression. Based in Dublin, she brings a unique blend of pop jazz and soft jazz to life through her warm voice and expressive cello playing. Her journey began with formal classical training, but her passion for artists like Norah Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, and Abel Selaocoe inspired her to explore the emotional and improvisational landscapes of jazz.
Over the past five years, Matilde has been crafting a sound that is both sophisticated and deeply personal—balancing melodic storytelling with rich harmonic textures. Her music is infused with joy, sincerity, and a quiet strength that reflects her cross-genre artistry. As a performer, she creates intimate atmospheres that invite the audience into her world—one where classical elegance meets contemporary soul.
Matilde (cello and voice) will play with
Cecil Henriquez, violin
Cecil, a violinist from Honduras, discovered her passion for music at the age of 14 and has been honing her craft ever since. She has a gift for balancing enjoyment, warmth, and technical skill-building within her lessons, building great confidence in her students while sharing her own passion and love of music with them. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and recently earned her Master’s from TU Dublin. She is an accomplished chamber musician, having won awards and participated in masterclasses at prestigious music schools such as Juilliard and Eastman. She has performed at prestigious concert Halls around Europe and the USA, including Carnegie Hall with the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and Musikverein Vienna in 2021, giving her the privilege of playing alongside some of the biggest names in classical music, including Alexander Markov, Maxim Vengerov, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming.
Paola Perez Beltran, violin
Paula is a Dublin-based violinist from Spain whose playing blends classical depth with contemporary edge. She has performed at Irish Music Week Festival and New Music Dublin with Ensemble Modern, and appeared at the 3Arena in orchestral productions celebrating ABBA, Queen, and Ibiza classics. With a warm and passionate style, Paula brings versatility and energy to every performance, moving easily between intimate ensembles and large-scale stages.
Elena Da Pieve, viola
Elena Da Pieve graduated with the highest honors from the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, under the guidance of Maestro Giancarlo di Vacri. She subsequently refined her skills with Maestro Simone Briatore, principal viola of the Rome’s Santa Cecilia Orchestra. She regularly works as a chamber musician and orchestral performer in various ensembles (Filarmonici Friulani, Orchestra da Camera di Pordenone, Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni, Venice Chamber Orchestra, Filarmonia Veneta, …). She has worked with renowned conductors (J. Axelrod, L. Török, M. Caldi, …) and has participated in several productions in collaboration with Teatro La Fenice in Venice. She holds a degree in Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage and Activities and she is currently attending the post-graduate Master in Classical String Performance at the University of Limerick.
