Loren Oliveira shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Loren, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
A common misunderstanding about Brazilian Voices is the assumption that our work as artists-in-residence is the same as music therapy. While both bring music into healthcare and community settings, the roles are quite different.
As artists-in-residence, Brazilian Voices offers live, interactive performances that bring joy, beauty, and cultural enrichment directly into hospitals, cancer centers, and senior facilities. Our focus is not on clinical treatment but on creating an atmosphere of comfort, hope, and human connection. Patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff often share that our music reduces anxiety, lifts spirits, and fosters a sense of peace—even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Music therapists, on the other hand, are healthcare professionals who use music as part of individualized treatment plans. Our work complements theirs by addressing the emotional and cultural dimensions of healing, inspiring resilience, and enhancing overall well-being through the power of live music.
By clarifying this distinction, people can better understand that Brazilian Voices provides an essential and healing artistic presence—one that touches hearts, supports the healing environment, and reminds patients and families that they are not alone.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Our story began 24 years ago, when a group of women gathered in a circle in South Florida—making music together and exploring its power beyond the conventional choir format. From the start, we embraced both the artistry and the science of music: harmony has profound effects on the human body, and studies show that when people sing together, their heartbeats can synchronize. That circle became Brazilian Voices.
Since then, the ensemble has grown into a vibrant nonprofit that performs both Brazilian and American tunes internationally and throughout South Florida, inspiring thousands each year. Brazilian Voices brings the rhythms of Bossa Nova, Samba, and American classics to theaters, schools, and universities—but also into hospitals, cancer centers, programs for children with disabilities, and senior facilities, where music becomes a source of comfort and healing.
Today, as teaching artists, we serve youth at three Boys & Girls Clubs in Broward County, at the Miami Learning Experience School, and through the Broward Center’s SEAS on Tour, reaching thousands of students annually. At the same time, as artists-in-residence, we bring live music into healthcare settings, supporting patients, families, and caregivers with performances that reduce stress, inspire hope, and foster well-being.
Along the way, we’ve been honored with 14 Brazilian International Press Awards, the 2022 Non-Profit of the Year – The Arts, and even an official Brazilian Voices Day in Broward County. Highlights include international tours and a Carnegie Hall performance with Brazilian composer Guilherme Arantes.
Next year marks our 25th Anniversary, to be celebrated with a special concert series at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts—and our music is now available worldwide on all major digital platforms.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The greatest teachers in our journey have been the local community. From the very beginning, their love for Brazilian music and the way they received our voices shaped the path we chose. When Brazilian Voices gave its first performance in 2001, the audience’s heartfelt reaction showed us the profound impact that our music could have. It was not just applause—it was a genuine connection, a recognition that this music could bring comfort, joy, and belonging across cultures.
That first moment taught us to invest in this work, to continue sharing not only the beauty of Brazilian rhythms but also the healing and unifying power of live performance. Over the years, every smile, every tear, and every word of gratitude from patients, students, seniors, and audiences has continued to guide us, reminding us that our mission is not only about singing, but about touching lives.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there have been times when Brazilian Voices faced challenges that made us question how we would move forward.
The first was when we transitioned from an informal, “in-house” board of directors to a professional one. This shift required us to completely rethink our internal processes, clarify roles and responsibilities, and create a stronger operational structure. Although difficult, this transformation ultimately helped us grow and align our work with higher standards of vocal and performance excellence.
The second moment was during the pandemic, when we could no longer perform in person. We had to reinvent our activities and create live online performances for healthcare settings. What seemed like a setback became a turning point: these virtual concerts not only kept us connected with patients and staff but also earned us the Community Care Plan 211 Broward “Best Non Profit of the Year- The Arts” Award for innovation in arts and health.
The third challenge is happening now, as many organizations in the U.S.—including ours—are grappling with the broader difficulties facing the arts and education. This moment requires us once again to adapt, rethink sustainability, and continue advocating for the vital role of music in healing and community building.
Through each of these challenges, instead of giving up, we found resilience, support from our local community, creativity, and even new ways to expand our mission.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural aspects we protect at all costs are rooted in the values that sustain Brazilian Voices both on and off the stage. Above all, we safeguard the well-being of our members, ensuring that every singer feels supported, respected, and uplifted.
We also honor and protect diversity, as our ensemble brings together women from many different backgrounds, united through the richness of Brazilian and American music. Transparency is another pillar of our culture—fostering trust, clarity, and accountability in how we make decisions and carry out our mission.
And perhaps most importantly, we cherish friendship. The bond among our members is what allows us to create harmony not only in music, but in community. This spirit of friendship, care, and collaboration is what makes Brazilian Voices strong and resilient, and it is something we will always protect.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story we hope people will tell when we are gone is that a group of immigrant women came together to create something truly unique—something that did not exist anywhere else in the world. Brazilian Voices was not just a choir, but a movement built on humanism, cultural exchange, and the belief that music could heal, comfort, and unite.
We hope they will remember that through our methodology and approach, we reached thousands of patients, students, and audiences across languages—Portuguese, English, and Spanish—bringing beauty, resilience, and connection wherever we sang. Our legacy is not only the music, but the way we carried it: with compassion, diversity, and a commitment to touching lives through harmony.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brazilianvoices.org
- Instagram: #brazilianvoices
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brazilian-voices-inc.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brazilian.voices.7/
- Youtube: brazilianvoices
Image Credits
Wilson Vasconcelos
Ian Ibbetson
