She began her studies of the violoncello in Oporto (Portugal) until she obtained the top grade with Professor Madalena Costa. She won the “Suggia” prize and performed the Elgar concerto with the “Montagnana” cello that belonged to Suggia.

She studied in Paris and Geneva with Pierre Fournier and continued her studies in the United States (Bloomington) with a Fullbright assistantship, as both a pupil and assistant to Janos Starker.

In chamber music, she received lessons from G. Sebök, B. Greenhouse, and M. Pressler. In early music, she studied with Safford Cape in Belgium. She was also a member of the “Grupo de Música Antiga de Lisboa,” playing the viola da gamba.

During the 1950s and 60s, she had an intense career as a soloist, performing recitals, concerts with orchestras, and recording. This activity culminated with her performance at the Wigmore Hall in London with Sequeira Costa.

She was a member of the “Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto” and the National Orchestra of Lisbon, and she was a professor at the “Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa.” For twelve years, she served as co-soloist with the Gulbenkian Orchestra.

She has been residing in Madrid, Spain, since 1976, where she performs in chamber music ensembles and, as a teacher, has contributed to the formation of prestigious Spanish cellists.

In 2001, she created the Cello Forum of Spain, which continues to operate under the name “Cello León” and has become a reference for students of the violoncello in Spanish conservatories.

In Oporto, Portugal, she founded the “Fundação Franz Schubert,” organizing masterclasses with the most prestigious cellists, such as L. Claret, M. Coppey, C. Bohorquez, T. Tsutsutmi, and D. Grosgurin.

She currently teaches courses throughout Spain, as well as in Portugal, Germany, and Switzerland.