Elsa de Lacerda started to study the violin with Nadine Wains at Etterbeek’s Academy of music, in Brussels. At the age of 15, she won the Government Medal, the Crédit Communal competition and played as soloist with the Liège Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She then joined Endré Kleve’s class at the Brussels College of Music where she obtained five First Prizes. Parallel to her studies, Elsa de Lacerda has developed a passion for musical journalism. As a producer and presenter on RTBF’s classical music channel, Musiq’3, she has provided the commentary for the Queen Elisabeth Competition for violin. She is also music critic for Le Soir, the main Belgian daily newspaper. In 2005, Elsa de Lacerda created the Alfama Quartet. She has performed with the Quartet on different stages in Europe including: Bozar, Flagey, Cité de La Musique, Luxembourg Philharmony, Ambronay Festival, Bordeaux Opera House, Orsay Museum and the Alcobaça Festival.

Alfama has created “Ariane’s dream” with the Belgian comedian Ariane Rousseau, a show for children touring in France, Belgium, Luxembourg which tells the story of the string quartet.
Elsa de Lacerda plays a 1761 Nicola Gagliano violin.