Sy'Aire Russell
Sy’Aire holds a Master’s degree in Music Composition and Theory from New York University (2022) and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition with a minor in Music Technology from The University of Texas at San Antonio (2020). Originally from Austin, Texas, they are currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
Sy’Aire has been playing piano and singing in choir since their youth, and has performed as a classical pianist, jazz musician, accompanist, and church musician. They have been teaching students both in person and online since 2017. In 2022, they were named a recipient of the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Their past teachers include Julia Wolfe, Joan La Barbara, Morton Subotnick, Ethan Wickman, James Syler, and Andrew Lloyd.
Music has been a lifelong passion for Sy’Aire, and they are deeply enthusiastic about sharing that passion with others. As a neurodivergent, trans person of color, Sy’Aire is especially committed to supporting students who may face barriers to accessing music education. They intentionally incorporate principles of inclusive design and accessibility into their teaching, striving to create lessons that are supportive, affirming, and engaging for every student.
Here is a video of me playing a song from one of my favorite movies!