Born in New York City, Susanna was raised in a musical family, and although her mother performs folk songs in many languages, the radio fare in Susanna's childhood home was usually classical. A stay in Mexico as an exchange student opened up the world of Latin American music to her as a teen. In the music of Chabuca Granda, Violeta Parra, Victor Jara, and interpreters like Mercedes Sosa and others, she "found" her voice. Later, Susanna would be entranced by Brazilian music, experiencing a second musical awakening, and her desire to learn Portuguese would bring her to Austin for a summer course at UT. She is best known in Austin as the leader of Susanna Sharpe and Samba Police, the city's longest running and much beloved Brazilian music band, which she fronted from 1988 to 2000. During those years, she became a regular fixture at Austin's Carnaval Brasileiro, as well as several clubs in town. Susanna has also been involved with other musical projects as varied as the Austin Klezmorim, the Collaborative Voices, the UT Andean and Brazilian Ensembles, the UT Mariachi, and Circle of Light. As with many of Susanna's musical projects, Catavento happened quite by serendipitous accident. She finds the cross-genre repertoire and acoustic format of Catavento, not to mention the camaraderie, to be perfect for the kind of musical exploration she wishes to pursue.
last updated: 03-20-2002
copyright 2002 susanna sharpe
Born in New York City, Susanna was raised in a musical family, and although her mother performs folk songs in many languages, the radio fare in Susanna's childhood home was usually classical. A stay in Mexico as an exchange student opened up the world of Latin American music to her as a teen. In the music of Chabuca Granda, Violeta Parra, Victor Jara, and interpreters like Mercedes Sosa and others, she "found" her voice. Later, Susanna would be entranced by Brazilian music, experiencing a second musical awakening, and her desire to learn Portuguese would bring her to Austin for a summer course at UT. She is best known in Austin as the leader of Susanna Sharpe and Samba Police, the city's longest running and much beloved Brazilian music band, which she fronted from 1988 to 2000. During those years, she became a regular fixture at Austin's Carnaval Brasileiro, as well as several clubs in town. Susanna has also been involved with other musical projects as varied as the Austin Klezmorim, the Collaborative Voices, the UT Andean and Brazilian Ensembles, the UT Mariachi, and Circle of Light. As with many of Susanna's musical projects, Catavento happened quite by serendipitous accident. She finds the cross-genre repertoire and acoustic format of Catavento, not to mention the camaraderie, to be perfect for the kind of musical exploration she wishes to pursue.
