Avi Wisnia

Avi Wisnia (born 14 November 1982) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter based in Philadelphia. He began performing in New York City in 2005 and released his debut EP, Avi Wisnia Presents, in 2007. His two subsequent full-length albums, Something New and Catching Leaves (2021), received praise from New York, Philadelphia and national press. He has received numerous awards and nominations for his work including the 2009 OutMusic Award for outstanding jazz song of the year for his rendition of TLC's "No Scrubs." In 2015 he accompanied his grandfather, a singer and Holocaust survivor, for a series of performances in Poland marking 70 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. He has also been active with a number of educational and charitable organizations, including the National Brain Tumor Society, Habitat for Humanity and the LGBT Academy of Recording Artists.

Wisnia sings in both English and Portuguese.

Early life and education Wisnia was born in Princeton, New Jersey and raised in Yardley, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. His father was a rabbi. His grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, was cantor at Temple Shalom in Levittown, Pennsylvania and Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation of Trenton, New Jersey.

In 2007 he recorded and released his debut EP titled Avi Wisnia Presents. For the recording, Wisnia and Migliari assembled a band of renown Brazilian musicians, including Marco Lobo on drums and Bernardo Bosisio on guitar.

"Sky Blue Sky" received recognition from the Philadelphia Songwriters Project and Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.

Holocaust legacy In 2015, Avi Wisnia accompanied his grandfather David Wisnia, a holocaust survivor, for a series of performances in Poland marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Avi Wisnia performed with his grandfather at the Fabryka Trzciny concert hall in Warsaw and at a remembrance event held at the Death Gate of the former Birkenau camp at Auschwitz, where David Wisnia was once imprisoned. It follows the family as they return to Poland to perform in 2020 and recalls the story of David Wisnia using his musical talents to survive the Holocaust and ultimately escape Auschwitz. The film was executive produced by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, written, directed and produced by Sara Taksler, and premiered on PBS.

Awards and nominations Wisnia has received numerous awards and nominations for his work. "Rabbit Hole" was recognized again in 2011 at the Glovebox Short Film and Animation Festival, where it was awarded runner-up in the music video category. He was an OutMusic Awards winner again when his song "Maoz Tsur (Rock of Ages)" won for best jazz/cabaret song. In 2017 he was awarded Musician of the Year by Bucks Happening magazine.

Performances and tours Wisnia has performed around the world. In 2022 he performed in the 60th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, the longest running American folk festival in the country.

In 2011 he partnered with Rio de Janeiro-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Denise Reis for a series of six performances in Brazil. In 2015 he accompanied his grandfather Cantor David Wisnia for a series of performances in Poland marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Personal life Wisnia is Jewish-American and the grandson of Holocaust survivor Cantor David Wisnia. He has also performed with the Moth Storytellers.

Discography All songs are written by Avi Wisnia, except where noted

Albums TitleDetailsTracklistWriters Avi Wisnia Presents:Released: November 2, 2007 Label: Avi Wisnia Something NewReleased: June 21, 2010 Label: Avi Wisnia, Mo Show Publishing (ASCAP), except Track 5 released by Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited (ASCAP) and Track 12 released by Air Control Music Inc/EMI April Music Inc/Kandacy Music/Tiny Tam Music/Tony Mercedes Music/W B Music Corp (ASCAP) Catching LeavesReleased: November 5, 2021 Label: Avi Wisnia, Mo Show Publishing (ASCAP), except Track 1 and Track 2 released by Avi Wisnia, Seth Kroll; Track 4 released by Silver Fiddle Music; Track 8 released by BMG Bumblebee/Warner-Tamerlane; Track 12 'Dindi' released by Corvovado Music Corporation/Ipanema Music

Singles

TitleDetailsRecording information Maoz Tsur (Rock of Ages)Released: November 23, 2011 Label: Avi Wisnia Mo Show Publishing Sky Blue SkyReleased: September 1, 2015 Label: Avi Wisnia PassoverReleased: June 20, 2016 Label: Avi Wisnia