Nora York

"Philosopher diva" Nora York was an adventurous singer-songwriter with a drive to explore the human condition. Her genre-crossing work defies easy categorization. With a sultry, soulful voice and hypnotic stage presence, York carved out a territory all her own — call her a "singer-songwriter-truthteller" (the Village Voice did). She brought a witty and literate twist to her performances, recombining songs and merging genres in thought-provoking ways.

Voice was at the center of York’s expression and creative invention, which emcompasses composition, live performance, and visual and multimedia arts. She released four albums: To Dream The World, Alchemy, What I Want (representing the outcome of the ‘02 NYSCA commission) and Power/Play. She performed at universities and music festivals; most notably the Newport Jazz Festival, New Sounds Live series at Merkin Hall NYC and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. York taight musicianship and performance as member of the faculty at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, New York University. She received a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation grant to write and present the multimedia concert "Water, Water Everywhere."