Paul Iwancio
Don’t be afraid of Paul Iwancio’s last name. It’s pronounced eye-wan-see-oh. A respected member of the music community, Paul is the founder and president emeritus of the Baltimore Songwriters Association, a 501(c)3 educational organization. He has been writing and performing music for over 20 years now. Besides being a singer, guitarist, bassist and songwriter he is also a teacher, mentor, panelist and advocate for the arts and human rights. His powerful songs are about embracing hope and choosing joy.
Paul’s first solo CD is called "Open Heart Stories". It was released in 2004 and received many positive reviews. Music Monthly named “Open Heart Stories” as one of the best CD’s in the region for 2004. Paul was a finalist in the Avalon Music Festival, a semi-finalist at the NewSong Festival and received an honorable mention in the Great American Song Contest and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.
Besides solo performances, he also is part of the duo "Ella's Umbrella"(with award-winning vocalist Nita Paul), and the quartet "The Art of Meaning". The Art of Meaning’s CD is titled “Live Art” and was recorded at Baldwin’s Station in Sykesville, MD. Paul is currently at work on a new album focusing on songs with Nita as their duo Ella's Umbrella.