José Milton Vieira is Principal Trombone of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and one of the leading figures of the new generation of Brazilian trombonists. Prior to joining the MSO in 2025, he served as principal trombone of the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra (OSPA) from 2006, where he also contributed significantly to chamber music and education.
As a soloist and teacher, Vieira has built a distinguished international career. He has performed throughout Brazil, United States, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Cuba, Venezuela, and South Korea, and has appeared as a guest artist at numerous festivals, most notably the 2018 International Trombone Festival (USA), where he had the opportunity to perform Johan Meij’s T-Bone Concerto under the composer’s baton. He is a prizewinner at several major competitions, including the Concorso Internazionale “Città di Porcia” (Italy, 2015) and the Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize (ITF, Paris, 2012).
His solo album Plural (2019), blending classical and popular styles, won Best Classical Album and Best Instrumentalist at the Açorianos Music Awards. A passionate advocate for new music, he has premiered numerous works for trombone.
Vieira studied at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and holds a Master’s degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He is also a Thein Brass artist and a faculty member of Play With a Pro.
