Davi Martinelli de Lira is an accomplished percussionist, timpanist, drum set player, and educator who has built an admirable career both in the United States and abroad. Renowned as an international chamber and orchestral musician, he is currently a member of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Britt Festival Orchestra, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, and the faculty at Elizabeth City State University.

Davi has performed with esteemed ensembles such as the Seattle Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Sarasota Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. His international appearances include performances in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico, and Canada. He has participated in numerous prestigious music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Orchestra of the Americas, and the National Repertory Orchestra, where he was featured as a soloist.

Coming from a musical family in which his parents and brother are all flutists, Davi began his musical journey at the age of 11 on drum set. In 2011, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Percussion from the University of São Paulo (Brazil). He moved to the United States in 2014 to pursue a Master of Music in Percussion Performance at Cleveland State University, where he studied with Tom Freer (Assistant Timpani/Percussion with the Cleveland Orchestra). After completing his master’s degree in 2016, he continued his studies at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, earning a Professional Performance Certificate in 2019. In 2023, Davi completed a Professional Studies Certificate at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California, where he studied with Ted Atkatz (former Principal Percussionist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). He is currently based in Norfolk, VA, where he maintains a busy freelance schedule alongside his permanent positions.

Outside of music, Davi enjoys working out, spending time with friends, playing video games, and participating in sports such as soccer, swimming, and Kung Fu, which he believes are essential for maintaining both physical and mental balance.