Cynthia Sayer

A native of Waltham, Massachusetts, Sayer spent her early childhood in Wayland, Massachusetts and the remainder of her youth in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.^[1] She played piano from the age of six through her college years and also studied viola, drums, guitar, and banjo.^[2] She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2016.^[3] She sang in school and community theater and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College with a degree in English.^[2] Sayer has worked with Woody Allen, Milt Hinton, Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Segal, Dick Wellstood, the New York Philharmonic, and The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.^[2]

Along with her performing, Cynthia has been a music educator for over 30 years. She has self-published two educational books for traditional jazz, teaches private and group lessons, and is a rotating faculty member of the New York Hot Jazz Camp.^[4][5]

• National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, 2006
• Steve Martin Banjo Prize, 2023

• The Jazz Banjo of Cynthia Sayer Vol. 1 (New York Jazz, 1987)
• More Jazz Banjo Vol. 2 (New York Jazz, 1989)
• Forward Moves (Yerba Buena, 1992)
• Jazz at Home (Jazzology, 1997)
• String Swing (Jazzology, 2000)
• Souvenirs (Plunk, 2002)
• Attractions with Bucky Pizzarelli (Plunk, 2007)
• Joyride (Plunk, 2013)

With the New York Banjo Ensemble

• Plays Gershwin (Kicking Mule, 1982)

• You're IN The Band' (Cynthia Sayer Music, 2016)
• The Swinging Solos Of Elmer Snowden' (Cynthia Sayer Music, 2021)

• Banjo Hall of Fame Members
• List of banjo players