Carole Sylvan
Type: Workshop, Residency
Art Form: voice, choir, arranger, songwriter
Grade Level: K-12
Carole is a classically trained pop/jazz singer, vocal arranger songwriter, and educator. She is a teaching artist and artist in residence for Young Audiences New York. She teaches Musical Theater, Pop, and Jazz, as well as choir
Carole Sylvan began singing in church and at the home of Count Basie. At age 16, she opened for James Brown at Yankee Stadium. She attending Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Julliard School of Music.
Ms. Sylvan’s classical performances include the role of Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Adele in Der Fledermaus and Bess in Porgy and Bess at Brooklyn College Opera. During, Carole’s junior year in college she went on the road with a show band for 44 weeks.
Ms. Sylvan’s career as a recording artist and international music star began to take shape early. She collaborated as co-writer and lead singer with the Fatback Band on their first hit song “Money,” which became the band’s first Gold Record. She would later score a Top Ten Billboard dance hit with “Just Doin’ What We Love,” produced by mix masters Mike Rosenman and Mike Hacker. And became one of Italy’s favorite singers with recordings of “Come Go With Me,” and “Caught Up.” She was also featured on Carlo Carita and Angels of Love’s “Better Than Before”. In 1995, Ms. Sylvan was featured on Danny Tenaglia’s album Tribal on the single “Look Ahead” which was voted Best Record of the Year by Mix Magazine.
Carole Sylvan has had a rich and successful career that continues. She has performed all over the world and recorded with C&C Music Factory, Change, Aaron Neville, Peabo Bryson, Pet Shop Boys, Simply Red, Toni Braxton, Rupaul, Eddie Murphy, Lionel Richie, Ben E. King, James Ingram, Melba Moore, Musique, Change, Dan Aykroyd, The Weather Girls, Brandy, Gloria Lynn, Diane Schuur, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Holiday, Charlie Karp, Patti LaBelle and many more.
Ms. Sylvan performed vocals on U2’s multi-platinum song “Rattle and Hum,” as well as a number of movie soundtracks and commercials. In 2019 she sang on Charlie Karp’s final studio album “Back To You,” released on Red Parlor Records which charted on the Roots Music Report for Blues Rock 2020.
Ms. Sylvan, a winner of the Ed Sullivan Award for outstanding artists, is also a teaching artist and an Artist in Residence, who was a 2020 YANY Teaching Artist Honoree.