User:Irisandra/sandbox

Iris Sandra Cepeda was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba in 1979. Beginning her musical studies at the age of eight, she studied piano at the Ernesto Lecuona Conservatory in her native city. During these years of study, she participated in various festivals and contests singing and playing piano. At the age of 14, Ms. Cepeda attended Cuba’s Escuela Nacional de Arte (National School of the Arts), where she majored in Choral Direction. Ms. Cepeda received what is equivalent to a masters degree, four years later. She was accepted as Professor of Choral Direction at the Manuel Saumel Cienfuegos Music Conservatory shortly after receiving her degree. In 1993 Iris Sandra Cepeda was a part of the vocal quartet Cactus, a project significantly influenced by the 1980’s styling of the groups Manhattan Transfer and Take Six. In 1994 Ms. Cepeda left the Cactus quartet to join Arte Mixto, a group that mixed traditional Cuban Music with elements of classical music, jazz, flamenco, salsa and samba, as well as various other influences.

In 1997, she recorded Arte Mixto’s first CD release ‘Deseos’, for which the group received many national awards, including the esteemed Benny More Music Award and toured thoughout Italy. Arte Mixto also shared 1st place with Laito Y Su Sonora in the Lucas Awards (Cuban equivalent to the MTV awards) the same year of the CD’s release. In 1998, she recorded on Arte Mixto’s second CD release, ‘Virginia’ which underwent a promotional tour to the United States. Iris Sandra Cepeda decided to stay.

Ms. Cepeda has a five year tenure as a faculty member teaching voice in the Afro-Latin Music Department at California State University, Los Angeles. In 2010 she joined the organization L.A. Best, where her role as Choral Director provides music instruction to elementary schools in Los Angeles.

Iris Sandra Cepeda has also been involved in many studio recordings with illustrious artists such as Floutist Danilo Lozano, who featured Ms. Cepeda in his CD, ‘Cuban L.A. Dos’, on the track “Lagrimas Negras” in 2000. The following year she performed background vocals on the sound track for the film “Original Sin” starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. Ms. Cepeda recorded on the late Israel “Cachao” Lopez and Andy Garcia’s CD releases ‘Cuba Linda’ in 2000 and ‘Ahora Si’ in 2004, the latter of which won 2 Grammy Awards the following year. In 2002 she was invited to record with Justo Almario and Alex Acuña’s project Grupo Tolu, on the CD release, ‘El Bongo De Van Goh’. In 2005 she recorded background vocals on the soundtrack for the film “The Cigar’s Song”. Also in 2005, Iris Sandra Cepeda recorded on the soundtrack for the motion picture “The Lost City”, with Andy Garcia as director and performing in the film as well. In 2007 Ms. Cepeda appeared on the T.V. show ‘Cane’ performing the song “Veinte Años”.

Iris Sandra Cepeda continues to work with the group Cineson Allstars lead by Andy Garcia, a project that tours internationally. Her other active projects include singing with in the groups Chalo Y Su Aché -under the direction of the group’s founder Gonzalo Chomat, which whom she recorded on the group’s first CD release ‘Ensemble’, and Rumbankete, a 14 piece Cuban music band under the direction of classically trained trombonist Denis Jirón.

In early 2011 Iris Sandra completed her first solo album, entitled Dos Palabras (Two Words), on the Spanish Music Records label. Iris’ long anticipated release features her stellar voice on six original tracks and some of the top studio recording talent in Los Angeles. The album showcases her wide ranging abilities as a singer and composer, surprising many with her soulful interpretation of music styles not commonly recorded in Spanish.