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Concert: Banjoist Cynthia Sayer
On Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m., Wagner College welcomes world-renowned banjoist Cynthia Sayer for a concert and Q&A session in Foundation Hall's Manzulli Board Room. The concert is free and the public is invited.
Note that the location for this event has been moved from the Campus Hall Performance Center.
Cynthia Sayer is regarded as one of the top 4-string banjoists in the world today. A member of Woody Allen’s jazz band for over 10 years, Sayer’s solo career has taken her well beyond these New Orleans roots to become an acclaimed bandleader and guest artist. She has a unique and expansive approach to the instrument that is all her own, and she is also a respected vocalist. Her eclectic repertoire ranges from swing and hot jazz to tango, western, classical and more.
Sayer has worked with a variety of leading jazz and popular artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Marian McPartland, Dick Hyman, Bill Cosby, Warren Vaché, Les Paul, Wycliffe Gordon, Marvin Hamlisch, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Milt Hinton, Randy Sandke, Scott Robinson and many others. She has also played with some top bluegrass/roots/country artists, including Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, Andy Statman, Eric Weissberg, Mike Marshall, Odetta and John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Cynthia Sayer began playing the banjo at age 13 when, after begging her parents for a drum set, she one day discovered a banjo on her bed, clearly intended as a more peaceful substitute. Years later, after she chose the banjo over law school, Sayer’s banjo teacher, Patty Fischer, would apologize to Cynthia’s mother whenever they crossed paths at the local grocery store. Her mother always kindly reassured the woman that it wasn’t her fault: Cynthia was bound to find her way into music one way or the other.
Sayer’s extensive career includes performances in New York City'’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, playing for two U.S. presidents, appearing with the New York Philharmonic, feature film and TV soundtracks including “Anything Else,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Purple Rose Of Cairo,” “Sophie’s Choice,” “The Cosby Mysteries,” TV commercials and radio jingles, and numerous national TV and radio show appearances in the USA and abroad. On the lighter side, she is the subject of a Trivial Pursuit game question and was the official banjoist for the New York Yankees.
Sayer’s many festival engagements include the JVC Jazz Festival (New York and Boston), Molde Jazz Festival (Norway), Marciac Jazz Festival (France), Ascona Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Jazz Yatra (India), Kobe Jazz Street (Japan), Gold Coast Jazz Festival (Australia) and the Sweet & Hot Music Festival (Los Angeles), among others. She is also one of the subjects of a PBS documentary, “Give Me the Banjo,” which aired Nov. 4, 2011.
Cynthia Sayer has accumulated numerous awards and honors, including induction into the National Banjo Hall of Fame. Readers’ polls from both trade and commercial publications have named her “Favorite Living Banjo Player,” “First-Choice Headliner,” “Best Banjo Player” and “4-String Banjo All Styles.” The Dresden International Jazz Festival awarded Cynthia their Festival Trophy, describing her as “a pioneer of a new banjo style... an exceptional artist who, without showy gimmicks, captivates and excites her audiences.” Three of Cynthia’s albums have individually been named as a “Top Ten Classic Jazz Release” by Cadence Magazine for the years in which they were released. Her most recent CD, “Attractions,” which includes legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was nominated for both the 2009 Swing Journal Disc Award in Japan and the Just Plain Folks 2009 Music Awards and was selected for the “Best CDs of 2007” list by the Jazz Journalists Association. Sayer’s new album, “Joyride,” was released in January and is available on her website.
Community Mitzvah Awards
The Wagner College Chai Society has announced the honorees for its 6th annual Community Mitzvah Awards, to be given at a dinner on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Rd., Staten Island. For information and tickets, call Betty McComiskey at 718-420-4014.
The Outstanding Student Award goes to Arielle Richardson ’14 of Eastport, Maine. As a student, Richardson has been actively engaged with Israel and Hillel programs on campus. She has studied at the Rothberg School at Hebrew University in Jerusalem while living in Pisgat Ze’ev for one year. Arielle is committed to deep involvement and furthering understanding of the complexities of Israeli culture and history and has been an active force in Israel programs at Wagner College.
The Outstanding Chai Society Member Award goes to Marcia and Monroe Klein of Staten Island, N.Y. The Kleins, current members of the Wagner College Chai Society Steering Committee, assist the society in providing scholarships and programming to Wagner College and the Staten Island community. Marcia was a New York City teacher for 30 years; Monroe, a former insurance agent, continues to be an active, licensed real estate broker. They have both been active volunteers in the Staten Island community for more than 40 years.
The Outstanding Community Member Award goes to Dr. Morton J. Kleiner of Staten Island, N.Y. Dr. Kleiner is the chairman of the Department of Medicine and director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Staten Island University Hospital. He is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Kleiner has research interests in iron deficiency and rehabilitation medicine for end-stage renal dialysis patients. He is highly regarded in the medical community and the Staten Island community-at-large.
Percussion Ensemble performance
On Tuesday, April 9 at 8:30 p.m. in the Campus Hall Performance Center, please join director David Clive for a performance by the Percussion Ensemble, featuring solo, sextet and large ensemble pieces by C.S. Wilcoxen, Led Zeppelin, John Beck, Markovich and others. The Percussion Ensemble will showcase a large assortment of percussion instruments, from concert bass drums and rudimental snare drums to Latin percussion, marimba and the vibraphone.