On Sunday, March 30, Brooklyn native and five-time New York Emmy nominee Tyrik “Keyz” Washington captured the gold for his musical arrangement “Pamela Gonzales” at the 57th annual New York Emmy Awards Gala, held at the New York City Marriott Marquis. Washington’s initial comments upon accepting this award were, “I’m honored to be nominated, but it’s nothing like winning.”
At their annual gala celebration, the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognized their 2014 Emmy nominees for their outstanding achievements and pursuit of excellence. The highest standards of quality in the arts, crafts and sciences of television conferred the industry’s classic and most coveted peer-recognition symbol of distinction, the Emmy. More than 1,000 of the most important individuals in New York media attended the Emmy Awards Gala to salute the outstanding accomplishments of this year’s nominees and awardees. Washington was among those who were celebrated.
Washington is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music. He joined the CUNY-TV staff in 2006, where he serves as the in-house music producer. He is the first producer to be nominated for and win a Craft Specialty Emmy for CUNY-TV.
He describes the award-winning composition as electro-pop with a Peruvian twist. The musical arrangement sets the tone for an inspirational story about Peruvian fashion designer Pamela Gonzales. The story was produced and edited by Marisol Tudela and aired on CUNY-TV’s Emmy-winning show “Nueva York” on May 5, 2013.
When asked how it felt to walk on stage and receive the Emmy award presented by Grammy Award-winning violinist Miri Ben Ari, Washington said, “It was a humbling experience and a honor—especially gracing the stage with CUNY Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson, CUNY-TV Executive Director Robert Isaacson and ‘Nueva York’ Supervising Producer Jerry Carlson.”
Washington is the president and CEO of his own music and film production company, New Day Music Group Inc. He recently directed and produced his second independent film, “The Power of Knowing,” and in 2012, he released his first feature film, “The Class Reunion.”