LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Mark Copani upon the occasion of
his induction into the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame as Music
Educator of the Year on March 3, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and recognize
those talented individuals within our midst, who have had a significant
impact on the arts and culture of our communities, by providing
outstanding instruction in the field of music; one such individual is
Mark Copani; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Mark Copani upon his induction into the Syracuse Area Music Awards
(SAMMYS) Hall of Fame as Music Educator of the Year celebrated at a
Ceremony on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syra-
cuse, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Syracuse Area Music Awards were first established in 1993
to annually recognize and honor Syracuse's most prominent musicians and
music educators, aiming to bring these individuals to the forefront of
public attention; and
WHEREAS, Syracuse, New York, native, Mark Copani, started to play
guitar at the young age of nine years old; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Nottingham High School, Mark Copani
majored in Music at Onondaga Community College in 1975; years later, he
returned to the college and graduated in 2003, with his degree in Elec-
tronic Media Communications; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Mark Copani began giving guitar lessons to youth
within the Central New York community at Dishaw's Guitar Shop in Syra-
cuse; for 26 years, he taught and inspired hundreds of local students;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, Mark Copani taught guitar lessons at the DeSan-
tis Music Schoolhouse & Bonne Music Center, as well as private lessons
within his home; and
WHEREAS, Today, many of Mark Copani's students are notables in the
current music scene, including, but not limited to, Andrew Greacen,
Kevin Metzger, Mike Burresci, and Anthony Sauterno; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his long and distinguished career, Mark Copani has
served as an expert in multiple music styles including jazz, smooth
jazz, swing, fun, blues, fusion, rhythm and blues, rock, top 40-pop, and
Christian, as well as acoustic folk; and
WHEREAS, For numerous decades, Mark Copani has wowed audiences by
performing on stage with several other well-renowned artists, such as
Kevin Mahogany, Grady Tate, Clay Aitken, Petula Clark, Al Martino, and
John Davidson; and
WHEREAS, Mark Copani has also toured Broadway and performed in popular
shows such as "Jesus Christ Superstar"; one of his favorite gigs was
playing alongside Mickey Rooney; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Mark Copani was the recipient of the Best Jazz
Instrumentalist by the Syracuse Area Music Awards, and in 2001, he
received the Larry Arlotta Award for Best Jazz Instrumentalist; and
WHEREAS, With deep appreciation, this Legislative Body is pleased to
have this opportunity to commend those musical instructors who distin-
guish themselves through their ability to inspire their students to
achieve excellence in musical performance, and to recognize the spell-
binding talent of Mark Copani, as well as wish him continuing success in
all his future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Mark Copani upon the occasion of his induction into the

Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame as Music Educator of the Year on
March 3, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mark Copani.