For over 15 years, Samba to Salsa has been a proud member of the Young Audiences of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania’s artist roster, bringing vibrant percussion performances to schools and communities across the region. Based in Philadelphia, this celebrated ensemble is a dynamic trio with deep ties to the Brazilian and Latin music scenes. The group’s members have played with distinguished ensembles such as Alô Brasil, Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra, Timbalona, and Conjunto Philadelphia. With a shared passion for cultural exploration, they have studied, traveled, and performed a wide range of percussion genres from the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, West Africa, and the Middle East.

As seasoned teaching artists, the members of Samba to Salsa each bring over two decades of experience in arts education. The group’s teaching artists—Alex Shaw, Josh Robinson, and Andrés Cisneros—are dedicated to fostering young talent while sharing the rich cultural traditions behind the music they play.

Alex Shaw, raised in Virginia, is a percussionist, vocalist, composer, cultural producer, and arts educator specializing in Brazilian music traditions. A long-time member of the Capoeira Angola community, he is a recognized cultural leader in Philadelphia and a recipient of the 2024 Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures Fellowship. He holds an MFA in World Percussion Performance.

Andrés Cisneros, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, was immersed in dance, music, visual art, and theater from an early age. A percussionist, vocalist, bandleader, and cultural educator, his work draws from Salsa, Latin jazz, and folkloric traditions of Latin America and the African diaspora. He holds a Master’s degree in Education and is known for his engaging, hands-on teaching style.

Josh Robinson, a native of Woodstock, NY, is an award-winning percussionist, keynote speaker, and facilitator. Known for his work at the intersection of rhythm, resilience, and healing, Robinson has received numerous accolades, including the 2021 New Jersey Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education and “Performing Artist of the Year” by Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA. His impact extends beyond performance, as he has been recognized for his contributions to arts education and community healing, including the Community Hero Award from The Uplift Center for Grieving Children and a Service Award from Rutgers University Future Scholars in Camden, NJ.