WAYNE FUGATE is one of the New York area's most versatile acoustic musicians. Making his musical home in the space in, around and between the American roots styles of bluegrass, blues, jazz, and old-time music, he can swing gracefully from these styles to any of his other musical loves in the worlds of Classical, Gypsy jazz and Brazilian Choro music. His playing combines emotion and intellect with technical precision and while he puts his own creative stamp on everything that he plays, the respect he has for tradition is readily apparent in his playing. A founding member of the widely acclaimed, eclectic string band "Uncommon Ground", Wayne also performs and tours with “Mandolin Madness” an ensemble featuring mandolin great, Barry Mitterhoff and “The New York Mandolin Ensemble”, one of the country’s premiere chamber orchestra groups using instruments of the Mandolin and Lute families (Mandolins, Mandola, Mando-Cello, Guitar and Bass). In demand as 'first call' freelance artist, some of Wayne's other performing credits include stage work with Tony Trischka, Hazel Dickens, Barry Mitterhoff, Kenny Kosek, Walt Michael & Co, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Kenny Kosek, Grammy Award winner Lisa Gutkin, and banjo legend Bill Keith. Wayne has performed on two continents at noteworthy venues that include Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall, Symphony Space, The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle, West Point, SPAC and The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. He can be heard on the soundtracks of Emmy nominated film "Home" and Louis B. Mayer award winning short film, "Respects". He was also heard (and seen) on Broadway playing mandolin and guitar on Steve Martin and Edie Brikell's five-time Tony nominated musical "Bright Star". Wayne has studied (and performed) with two of the world's mandolin greats, Barry Mitterhoff and Mike Marshall. He continues his musical education with private instruction and has attended several continuing education programs at Boston's Berklee College of Music. He is active as a mandolin teacher, offering both private instruction and workshops given annually at prominent festivals and music camps throughout the Northeast. Wayne is the author of two (soon to be three) instructional and tune books for mandolin available through Alfred Publishing and Mel Bay. Wayne makes his home in New York's Hudson Valley. He is married to a tremendously talented actress, has three incredibly wonderful and beyond amazing kids, is the proud human "parent" to a cat named Miles and is not-so-secretly obsessed with technology and gadgets of all kinds. Make your next event stand out by offering your guests or patrons music that is unique in character and style, performed by a musician at the top of his game! Critics and fans alike seem to appreciate Wayne's performances for their humor, warmth, and mercurial dazzle. His various ensembles are polished, never less than musically captivating and directly involve the audience in the thrill of musical discovery.