Vocal music performance and computing in the arts double major with the Honors College
Vivien C. Boykin Music Scholarship, Edwina Eustis Dick Endowed Scholarship, Marion and Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for SOTA, Lee Harwood Scholarship Fund-Music, Charleston Men’s Chorus Scholarship, Hale-Westbury Scholarship, College of Charleston Foundation Annual Scholarships, SOTA Gala Scholarship for Music
Applying to graduate school in his home state of Georgia with the goal of pursuing a master’s degree in music performance or music education.
James Cyganek’s baritone voice has rung out across the Cistern Yard and reverberated through TD Arena in recent years while singing the national anthem and alma mater at the College of Charleston’s spring and fall commencement ceremonies.
This May, Cyganek will experience commencement from a new perspective – as one of the graduating seniors crossing the stage.
“I have sung commencement for so many years and always thought about the day it would be me walking across the stage, and now the time is here,” he says. “It’s surreal how I’ve helped celebrate so many other graduates and now I am finally joining their ranks. I’m ready to take my voice I’ve found here and carry that confidence into my next chapter of life.”
While at the College, Cyganek has distinguished himself academically and artistically while earning multiple scholarships, including the Lee Harwood Scholarship Fund-Music, the Edwina Eustis Dick Endowed Scholarship, the Marion and Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for SOTA, the Hale-Westbury Scholarship and the Vivien C. Boykin Music Scholarship.
Cyganek has also received several notable recognitions for his vocal talent, including the Marguerite Elfe Erckmann Vocal Award in 2023 and first place in his category in the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. He has also been a three-year scholarship recipient of the Charleston Men’s Chorus Scholarship, further reflecting his commitment to performance and ensemble work.
“My time at the College of Charleston has helped me grow into a more confident, well-rounded musician through performance and mentorship,” says Cyganek, who has also developed a versatile stage presence throughout Charleston, performing opera for adult audiences and introducing younger listeners to classical music through children’s opera.
He has further developed his voice and real-world experience through local performances with the College’s Concert Choir and the Piccolo Spoleto Young Artists Series. His work extends internationally, including performances at Vienna’s historic Palais Ehrbar and the Cantieri Culturali festival in Breno, Italy.
“These international experiences have been the perfect complement to the training I have received here in Charleston,” says Cyganek.
At the same time, his studies in computing in the arts and participation in the Steel Pan Ensemble have allowed him to expand his musical perspective beyond traditional vocal performance.
“These opportunities broadened my perspective and allowed me to engage with music in different ways, both creatively and academically,” he says.