Spring-Summer 2017

Cyro Baptista, photo courtesy of the artist

Since arriving in the US in 1980 from his native country Brazil, Cyro Baptista has emerged as one of the premier percussionists in the country. During his Spring-Summer 2017  Residency, Baptista is working with Buffalo sculptor Shasti O’Leary Soudant and UB students on the creation of a unique sculpture/percussion instrument to be installed in the Percussion Garden at Artpark.

Shasti O'Leary Soudant, photograph courtesty of the artist

Coinciding with the rise in the public’s interest of world music, Cyro has managed to record and tour with some of music’s most popular names. His mastery of Brazilian percussion and the many instruments he creates himself, have catapulted him into world renown. 

Baptista recorded with pianist Herbie Hancock on his 2005 release, Possibilities. In 2002 Baptista toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil Project and also appeared on the Obrigado Brazil album – winner of two Grammy awards. He also toured with Trey Anastasio of Phish and John Zorn. He recorded and performed worldwide with Herbie Hancock’s Grammy award winning Gershwin’s World. Baptista collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a Brazilian Carnival modern jazz concert. For over two years, he toured with Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints tour and appears on his Concert in Central Park release. He also toured worldwide with Sting in 2001.

His residency will include a week-long workshop for UB students and the public entitled Sound of the Community (July 24-29). Opening performance on the installation by Cyro Baptista, Billy Martin, Tom Kolor, UB music students, participants in the Sound of the Community workshop, and others, July 30, 2017.    

Situated in a picturesque New York State Park, high atop the Niagara River Gorge, Artpark offers a magnificent celebration of the arts happens every summer taking the finest in performing and visual art and make them accessible to everybody. Artpark also seeks to foster an understanding and awareness of the many and varied forms of art and art makers. Since its formal opening on July 25, 1974, Artpark has successfully forged a new role for the arts in leisure. Artpark is unique as a public park and as a space for art. There is nothing like it - anywhere.