By Paulo Maia
In the simple streets of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, in Espírito Santo, a girl was born who would transform the delicate sound of the violin into a bridge between worlds. Letícia Soares Viana, now known as Letícia Violinista, carries in each note not only technique and talent, but also a story of overcoming that inspires thousands of people daily.
At the age of five, watching a boy play the violin in the church orchestra, Letícia decided that this would be her instrument. A year later, her grandfather — a great supporter and a key figure in her journey — gave her her first violin. Even without knowing how to read or write, she already demonstrated a keen ear, learning to play by ear before mastering sheet music. Music, from an early age, was her universal language.
Raised in a difficult environment, Letícia found the opportunity to study music at the Casa Verde Project. There, she dedicated six to eight hours a day to the violin, becoming the orchestra’s first violinist—the leader who helps with tuning and supports the conductor—a position she held for almost a decade. In 2018, she participated in the recording of a DVD with soundtracks from films such as Game of Thrones and Pirates of the Caribbean, showing that her art had already transcended borders.
With the pandemic, the stages closed and sources of income disappeared. To help her family, Letícia worked as an apprentice in a shoe store and even sold handicrafts. It was at this moment that the internet became her new showcase. At 17, encouraged by a friend, she started doing live streams on TikTok. What seemed like a timid attempt soon turned into an explosion of audience: today, she has more than 377,000 followers and almost 4 million likes.
In 2024, Letícia had an insight that would change her career: playing soccer team anthems on the violin. The fusion between the sophistication of classical music and the popular passion for soccer won over millions. One of her videos surpassed 7 million views, and she became known as “the girl from the soccer team.” The creativity didn’t stop there: country music, samba, and even collaborations with renowned artists, such as Belo and Anderson Freire, expanded her repertoire and consolidated her versatility.
Throughout her still brief career, and more than just numbers, Letícia has built a genuine relationship with her audience. Her live streams can gather more than 20,000 people, half of them foreigners. To communicate better, she studies English and Spanish, reinforcing her view that music is a language without borders. In her performances, she mixes praise and popular music, always with the conviction that her art is an instrument of peace and emotion. “God uses me to touch hearts,” she says, even in the face of criticism for playing songs outside the gospel repertoire. Her prominence on the TikTok platform has also earned her the authority to mentor, as a creator, new artists seeking to showcase their talents.
From Cachoeiro do Itapemirim to Rio de Janeiro, from social projects to partnerships with big names, Letícia Violinista shows that talent combined with creativity can transform lives. Her story proves that music doesn’t need labels: it’s emotion, memory, and connection. And, in Letícia’s case, it’s also hope — the certainty that dreams can come true when you believe in the power of a note.
Follow Letícia Violinista:
Instagram: @leticiaaviolinista | TikTok: @leticiaaviolinista | YouTube: @leticiaaviolinista
