Praised by the Chicago Tribune as a “highly personable, exceptionally talented pianist,” Élider DiPaula is a Brazilian classical musician, composer, and pedagogue. Since winning the Orestes Farinello National Piano Competition at the age of seven, he has received numerous accolades, including as guest soloist of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Goiás, and the award of a commission by the Brazilian concert series Goiânia Música Hoje.

DiPaula earned his conservatory diploma at Escola de Música de Anápolis and was subsequently invited to join their music faculty at the age of seventeen. Concurrently, DiPaula studied piano at the Universidade Federal de Goiás in the studio of Dr. Ana Flavia Frazão. In his undergraduate experience at Universidade Federal de Goiás, DiPaula was awarded by the CAPES/FIPSE program to be part of a student exchange program at Marshall University. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, DiPaula joined the faculty of the Instituto Basileu França, the largest conservatory in central Brazil, serving as a piano professor, lecturer, and as coordinator of both the Chamber Music Department and the International Artist Exchange program. In addition to his artistic and pedagogical accomplishments, DiPaula established the Catartístico Society, founded the Escola de Músicos, coordinated the 8th National Composers Conference at the Federal University of Goiás, and was the co-creator of the Contemporary Music Exhibition Som de Minuto. While still performing actively, he premiered and recorded works by several Brazilian and American composers.

DiPaula earned his Master of Music degree in piano performance at James Madison University, where he studied with Dr. Paulo Steinberg and Dr. Gabriel Dobner. Under the tutelage of Dr. Ludmila Lazar, DiPaula received the Artist Diploma in Piano Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

In 2018, he launched Project 88, for which he is the Executive Director. Additionally, as Artistic Director, DiPaula leads the Fifth Season of Project 88’s Concert Series in 2023. In recognition of his work for Project 88, DiPaula was awarded the Center for Arts Leadership Seed Grant from the Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2019 and the Social Justice Alumni Award from Roosevelt University during its 75th Anniversary Celebration in 2020. He is currently on faculty at Project 88 Music Academy and is the director of Beacon Arts & Music in Uptown Chicago, where he teaches both piano and composition. In 2022, DiPaula was appointed as the Chairman of the Chicago College of Performing Arts Advisory Board at Roosevelt University.