Cellist Raiff Dantas Barreto performed Tuesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Thibodaux, accompanied by pianist Luciana Soares, assistant professor of music, and violinist James Alexander, adjunct instructor of music at Nicholls.The free, public concert provided a night of Brazilian music to those in attendance.

Barreto, who was born in the Brazilian state of Paraiba, has served as principal cellist at the Municipal Theater of Sao Paulo for eight years. After coming to the United States to perform in New York, he was contacted by Soares, a personal friend also from Brazil.

When she heard that Barreto was going to be in the country to perform, Soares said she wanted him to put on a concert near the University.

Alexander accompanied Barreto for only one piece, but Soares played throughout the evening.

Talbot Theatre was not available for the concert due to a scheduling conflict, so St. John’s was picked as an alternate venue.

The concert was held at the church with no cost to the University and was chosen because of the exceptional way it complimented the evening.

“The acoustics are very good at St. John’s for the types of instruments used,” Soares said.

Barreto performed on his custom-made cello, called “O Aleijadinho,” which was built by his brother, Saulo Dantas-Barreto, in 2007.