Nioka Workman *
(Cello, Vocals )
Nioka has credits in the areas of dance, theater, music and film. She has toured the world appearing at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Sons’d Hiver Festival, Detroit Electronic Music Festival to name a few. Currently, she shared the stage with Def Poetry Jam CEO Danny Simmons featuring KAYO at Newark Symphony Hall and played with the BRC Orchestra’s Tribute to Curtis Mayfield at Symphony Space. Nioka’s arrangements for string quartet was featured in “Bird Calls, birthday celebration of Charlie Parker” by Jazz Foundation of America and for the title track, “Blackbirds”, by Betty LaVette/Verve, nominated for a Grammy. Nioka is part the project by nia love called g1 (HOST):LOSTATSEA. The team received a Bessie Award for music/sound design in 2020. As a collaborator with Leslie Parker Dance, the company is currently touring the US. Nioka can be heard worldwide, on CD’s of the luminary artists; Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, India Arie, DJ Rogers and Joe. As founder of Firey String Sistas, Nioka is creating tours and co-producing the band’s sophomore CD.
*Founder
Marlene Rice
(Violin, Vocals)
Marlene has traveled around the world, from the month she visited NYC. She has performed in Japan in the early 1990's and in France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Trinidad and Central/South America. One of her personal highlights took place at the Kennedy Center with her mentor, jazz violinist John Blake, during the performance of his “Celebration Of The Fiddle From Africa To America”. Ms. Rice is currently a teaching artist-in-residence, and string department director, at the Cecily Tyson School of Music.
Mala Waldron
(Lead Vocals, Piano)
Mala is a native of NYC whose first paid gig was at the Elk's club with a local R&B band at age 15. Later, enrolling at SUNY - Old Westbury she studied jazz piano, voice & composition with Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Warren Smith and Amina Claudine Myers, earning a B.A. Degree. She currently balances local performances with regular tours in Europe and Asia. Career highlights include opening at the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival (JALC) for Patrice Rushen, being guest arranger/vocalist with James “Jabbo” Ware's “Me, We & Them Orchestra,” and appearing in the documentary, “The Girls in the Band.” CDs featuring Mala's work are “Lullabye,” (solo debut and tribute to godmother, Billie Holiday), “He's My Father,” (duo project with father, pianist/composer, Mal Waldron) and “Always There,” named one of Jazz USA's Top 10 CDs of 2006. Mala’s new solo project entitled, “Deep Resonance” is now available .
Firey String Sistas performances feature a guest bassist and percussionist.
Our 2023-24 guest artists are;
Bassist: Belden Bullock
Drummer: Luciana Padmore