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Cedric D. Lyles is an artist driven by a passion for the arts and for creatively inspiring others: pianist, singer, composer, and arranger, are a few music titles to describe his artistry. Activist, administrator, arts manager, diversity (DEIBJ) practitioner and educator are just a few more of the titles that also aptly describe him. Lyles is a Washington, D.C. native with childhood musical training from the Levine School of Music. His life with music began at the early age of four, as a singer in the children’s choir at church. Between musical experiences at church and school, he learned to sing, musically improvise, and he learned to play the piano. When Lyles demonstrated his abilities to his Elementary music teacher, she gave him free, private piano lessons after school. This led to receiving a scholarship to the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C. Today, he’s a versatile pianist and musician having served several arts organizations in the D.C./Baltimore Metro area in addition to numerous school, community and church organizations. While studying music as a child, Lyles also developed a passionate love for theater through formative musical films, Disney cartoon musicals, and by creating and producing homemade live productions with his siblings and cousins as young children.

As a musical director, Lyles’ focus is on aiding the storytelling through the music, regardless of the genre. His approach encourages actors/performers/instrumentalists and any artist engaging with music to examine the text (or context) to support their musical choices; even down to how you take a simple breath. These nuanced musical choices are intended to support the story for the sake of the listeners and viewers, while at the same time elevating the performer. In addition to challenging artists to bring their most authentic selves to their artistry, Cedric’s gift of musical creation (truly a gift of hearing) provides the framework for artists to freely give themselves over to the performance. Singers and instrumentalists under his baton generally experience a range of musical creation and expression unlike anything they can recall.

After receiving a degree in music from Morgan State, Lyles’ drive for diversifying the musical theater industry led to the founding of ArtsCentric; an African American, color-conscious performing arts organization in Baltimore, MD. ArtsCentric is the breeding ground for Lyles’ creative works, specifically his original music and beautiful arrangements as well as collaboratively recreating musical theater works for the stage. His original work 7:32 the musical was featured at the 2012 New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) in addition to winning Best Musical in 2009 at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival (KC-ACTF). His recent work A Book of Judges: Delilah’s Story was featured at The Atlas in Washington, D.C. and at the 2021 Kennedy Center “Page to Stage” Festival. To his credit, Lyes’ vocal and band arrangements are best reflected in his work as musical director on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (2023 at Baltimore Center Stage/ArtsCentric); Once On This Island (2023 at ArtsCentric); Crowns (2023 at Baltimore Center Stage / ArtsCentric). In addition, In The Heights, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Wiz,Lippa’s The Wild Party, ArtsCentric’s “Sincerely, Series,” and Little Shop of Horrors (a ‘70s funk reimagination).

As Lylescontinues to expand the footprint of ArtsCentric as an influential, instrumental arts organization in the region, he also continues to create music for theater, for musical films, live performances, recordings, and the enrichment of the human spirit in general.