BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY November 24, 2019 4
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
Bronx musician honored with street co-naming ceremony
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MEMBER:
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 conaming
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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