In a world that often seems crowded with talented musicians, the light often shines on those artists who seek their personal voice at any cost.
Cyrus Pace has spent the last 25 years doing just that. Through the fortunate contact with musicians who stressed the importance of self-expression and originality in music early in his career, Cyrus learned of the power of music as a tool of expression. The long and continuing search for meaning in music has lead to a realization for him that the guitar is not the instrument, the player is the instrument. He is as influenced by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown as he is by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Wes Montgomery. Cyrus seeks to serve the source that is independent of form, style, and classification.
Cyrus played his first professional gig at 15, toured extensively with the Navy Band, and received his Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Rodney Jones. He has performed and recorded with many notable jazz musicians including Don Byron, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Rene Marie. One of his main groups is the Pace Brothers Organ Trio. Also an educator, Cyrus lectures at Roanoke College and VT and continues to teach youth jazz programs.
Cyrus is also the Executive Director at Jefferson Center, a nonprofit foundation that focuses on programming, musical outreach through education programs, and tenant leasing to 20 other nonprofits in a 110,000 sq. ft. building in Roanoke, VA.
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