Festival Big Band, with Maiya Sykes

Maiya Sykes, a classically trained vocalist and producer, wowed the audience at last year’s Festival Big Band concert. A graduate of Yale University, she continued her musical education at The Musicians’ Institute and studied independently with Nina Simone and Betty Carter. Sykes is a former back-up singer who has sung with the likes of Macy Gray, Michael Bublé, Avril Lavigne, and Joss Stone. Her appearance on The Voice catapulted her to lead singer fame, and her background vocals have been featured in many films, including the Oscar award-winning La La Land.