Quinteto da Paraíba, Brazil’s renowned chamber music group, will visit Syracuse Jan. 28-Feb. 2 to hold a residency at the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (VPA) Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music. Presented as part of Setnor’s Baker Artists Program, the residency will include a schedule of lessons, master classes and performances, with some events open to the public.
The quintet will rehearse with several Setnor ensembles, including the Syracuse University Orchestra, Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble and Samba Laranja, the University’s Brazilian Ensemble. The group will also work with student composers, recording their compositions with sound recording and technology students in the Belfer Recording Studio; give private lessons to string students; and serve as guest speakers at Setnor’s all-school convocation, the Soyars Leadership Lecture Series and the Music Education Academy.
The quintet will also perform both on campus and in the Syracuse community. The following performances are free and open to the public:
Quinteto da Paraíba’s residency is part of VPA’s ongoing internationalization initiatives.
“Their visit is an important step in expanding our partnership with the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB),” says Elisa Macedo Dekaney, professor of music education and associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization in VPA, who visited UFPB last year. “I was impressed by their music artistry and by the Brazilian repertoire they played. I am excited by what we can learn from each other.”
Quinteto da Paraíba’s members are Thiago Formiga, violin; Ulisses Silva, viola; Ronedilk Dantas, violin; Nilson Galvão, cello; and Xisto Medeiros, bass. The group originated in the music department of the Communication, Tourism and Arts Center of the UFPB and has been in residence there for nearly three decades. Traveling with versatility between concert music and popular music, Quinteto da Paraíba has recorded a number of CDs and has appeared on DVDs, movie soundtracks, shows, concerts and tours in Brazil and abroad. They are avid ambassadors of the music of Brazilian composers.
The Baker Artists Program creates opportunities for students to connect with renown music professionals through a robust and engaging residency program. Founded in 2013 by a grant from the Dexter F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation, the Baker Artists Program brings leading performers, educational scholars, composers and industry leaders to the Setnor School of Music, the Syracuse University campus, and to the larger Syracuse community by providing master classes, lectures and performances.
For Setnor Auditorium performances, free and accessible concert parking is available in the Q1 lot. Additional parking is available in the Irving Garage. Campus parking availability is subject to change; call 315.443.2191 for current information.
If you require accommodations to fully participate in Setnor Auditorium events, please contact Michelle Taylor at 315.443.2191 or mjtaylor@syr.edu.
