Bronx musician honored with street co-naming ceremony
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (c.) with members of the Bronx Arts Ensemble at the unveiling of ‘William J.
Scribner Way’ at the corner of Hillman Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South on Friday, November 15.
Photo by Carlotta Mohamed
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BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Bronx elected offi cials and
community members at the
corner of Hillman Avenue and
Van Cortlandt Park South honored
a late musician with a
street co-naming ceremony on
Friday, November 11.
In recognition of late Bronx
Arts Ensemble founder, William
J. Scribner, Councilman
Andy Cohen and Assemblyman
Jeffrey Dinowitz, unveiled
‘William J. Scribner
Way,’ followed by a musical
performance of Ludwig Van
Beethoven.
Scribner, who was also
known as ‘Bill,’ passed away
in September 2016. He was a
world-class bassoonist and
performed as a principal with
the American Symphony Orchestra,
Long Island Philharmonic,
and the Brooklyn Philharmonic,
to name a few.
Scribner’s legacy, the Bronx
Arts Ensemble, located at 80
Van Cortlandt Park South,
Suite 7D-1, was established in
1972, where acclaimed performance
musicians presented
over 100 concerts a year.
In 1993, BAE launched the
arts-in-education program in
over 40 schools in the borough
and beyond with instruction
in music, drama, dance, visual
arts, capoeira, drumming and
more.
The BAE continues to develop
and integrate its core
programs impacting new audiences
and building a Bronx
family.
Scribner was remembered
for his dedication to provide
free or low-cost concerts for citizens
of the Bronx.
“I knew Bill for almost 25
years or more, and he brought
so much to this community
and to the people of the Bronx,”
said Dinowitz. “I always say
‘you don’t have to go to that island
below us to see great performances
or hear beautiful
music, when it’s right here in
the Bronx’...It’s so fi tting that
we have this sign up here because
when people walk by
they’ll see Bill’s name and remember
what he did for us.’”
Cohen added, “It’s a modest
honor that really refl ects Bill’s
hard work and commitment in
the community and it’s a great
acknowledgement.”
The proposal to co-name
Hillman Avenue ‘William J.
Scribner Way’ was announced
two years ago, according to
BAE board chair, Robert
Fanuzzi, who thanked Community
Board 8 and City Council
offi cials for approving the
proposal.
“It’s wonderful to see a
great turnout for an artist, because
often it’s the artist who
gets overlooked but here an
artist really helped rebuild
the Bronx,” Fanuzzi said. “It’s
a great honor because it’s an
organization that really helps
every corner, every neighborhood
of the Bronx.”
Scribner’s family members
expressed gratitude and joy at
the sight of the street sign with
on-lookers.
“I’m absolutely honored. I
never saw this coming,” said
Scribner’s son, Andrew. “It’s
wonderful that he had the gift
of music and got to share it
with many people...it’s inspiring
to see someone with that
much of a passion for his profession
that has permeated everyone
around him. It’s tremendous.”
For Scribner’s fi rst wife,
Louise Scribner, and his
widow, Marsha Heller, the ceremony
was an inspiring delight.
“I’m just thrilled. It’s so
well deserved and I am just so
happy that it happened and so
many people came to see it and
(hear the) wonderful words
(that) were spoken. The whole
family is thrilled,” Heller said.
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