Career
She is also a 2006 inductee into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame as recognition as a Contemporary Performer. In 1982, she recorded with Marvin Hamlisch for the soundtrack for Sophie"s Choice. In 1985 worked as a musical consultant and also played ukulele on the soundtrack of Woody Allen"s The Purple Rose of Cairo banjo for his film "Bullets Over Broadway," piano for "Anything Else," and is on ukulele again for his 2014 film release, "Magic In The Moonlight." She has also played on a number of other feature film & television show soundtracks, including "The Cosby Mysteries," as well as on several television commercials.
She appears in documentary film Wild Manitoba Blues (directed by Barbara Kopple) and documents a 1996 European tour by Allen and his band.
Sayer appears on two released recordings of the group, CDs: The Bunk Project (1993) and the soundtrack of Wild Manitoba Blues (1997). Sayer has performed at the White House, played with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Kurt Masur, performed in several Lincoln Center venues, Carnegie Hall, played with The Philharmonia Virtuosi conducted by Richard Kapp, and much more.
She has appeared with leading artists in several genres, though regards herself as primarily a jazz musician. In 2006 Cynthia was honored for her performance skills with her induction into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame which is part of the American Banjo Museum.
She has been a guest on numerous television and radio show programs, including twice on the popular National Public Radio show, "Piano Jazz" (hosted the first time by Marian McPartland), "NDR Talk Show" in Germany, British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4"s "Woman"s Hour" in England, and many more.
Sayer was filmed for the 2011 Public Broadcasting Service documentary, "Give Maine The Banjo", was featured in "Downbeat Magazine" in 2013, and appeared on the national public television and radio show "Woodsongs Old-TIme Radio Hour" in 2014. Cynthia Sayer has an extensive career as a bandleader and featured guest artist. Her most recent feature recording is "Joyride" (2013) with Charlie Giordano on accordion and other top artists.
Before that was "Attractions" with Bucky Pizzarelli (2007).
Sayer has also become involved as an educator, performing programs about early jazz and the 4-string banjo at colleges, giving lecture/demonstrations for various organizations, teaching workshops while on tour worldwide, giving private lessons, hosting jam sessions, and more. Teaching credits include the New School of Music, where she taught several Traditional Jazz Ensemble Workshops for Jane Ira Bloom"s class.
Cynthia has also written feature articles for several American and British trade publications, including "The Resonator, the quarterly newsletter for the non-profit group Banjos Unlimited. All Frets Magazine, and Just Jazz Magazine.
Sayer was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, spent her early childhood in Wayland, Massachusetts, and the remainder of her growing up years in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
She took up the banjo when she was thirteen years old. She attended Ithaca College in New York and was graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors degree in English.
