10/28/2026
Thank you to the Niagara Gazette for the article about the 2026 Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and about each of the inductees.
Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame to induct nine new members
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
The Niagara Falls region has produced musicians who have performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, recorded with internationally recognized artists, shaped the music industry behind the scenes, and kept local musical tradit ions alive for generations. On Nov. 5, those achievements will be celebrated when the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame welcomes its 2026 class of inductees.
The induction ceremony will take place at the Bears Den at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, honoring nine individuals and groups whose musical accomplishments and contributions have helped shape the cultural identity of Niagara Falls and Western New York.
From an internationally acclaimed Metropolitan Opera conductor to a pioneering polka bandleader, an award-winning blues guitarist, a successful Nashville singer-songwriter, and a music industry executive who worked with major record labels, this year’s class reflects the extraordinary range of talent connected to the region.
THE 2026 INDUCTEES
• VIRUS X BAND: Formed in Niagara Falls in the early 1980s, Virus X is a legendary punk-blues band known for its raw energy, dark humor, and four decades of fierce underground credibility. Having shared stages with acts like the Goo Goo Dolls and Corrosion of Conformity, the group continues to tour, record, and maintain a powerful regional presence that cements their enduring punk legacy.
• RAY BARRY: A musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, educator, author, promoter, and manager, Ray Barry has performed throughout the United States and Canada for more than 30 years. In 2016, he was named Best Blues/Rock Guitarist by Artvoice magazine and has received more than a dozen Buffalo Music Award nominations. He is also co-owner of the Del Lago School of Music and a music teacher and choir director at St. Peter’s RC School in Lewiston. He has authored two instructional books, Ray Barry’s Guitar Method and The Essentials of Music Theory for Guitarists. Through Barry Entertainment, he manages national talent and produces regional festivals and concert series, including Wednesdays at The Park and the Buffalo Blues & Roots Festival.
• ROBERT DUERR: An internationally acclaimed conductor, virtuoso organist, and Episcopal priest, Robert Duerr was born in North Tonawanda and spent his early years in the Niagara region before establishing a distinguished international career. In 1989, Duerr made his historic conducting debut at the Metropolitan Opera with Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, having become the first conductor selected for the Met’s Young Artist Development Program. Throughout his career, he has led prestigious ensembles, including the New York City Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Duerr also founded and served as music director of the awardwinning Pasadena Chamber Orchestra and served as music director of the Harmonia Chamber Singers. A recipient of six national ASCAP awards for adventurous programming, his career exemplifies artistic excellence and the far-reaching impact of talent rooted in Western New York.
• MATT PIORKOWSKI: His legacy is closely connected to Matt’s Music Inc. in North Tonawanda, the family-owned music store and instructional center he founded in 1963. What began as a small accordion studio grew into a longstanding music institution serving generations of musicians throughout Western New York. Piorkowski was an accomplished musician in his own right, particularly in the polka tradition. His career included an appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show, and he performed for Pope John Paul II. Through his musical career and the business he established, Piorkowski helped nurture young performers, support music education, and make instruments, instruction, and musical resources accessible to the community. His legacy continues through the family members who carry on Matt’s Music today.
• JOSEPH MACIELAG: A pioneering bandleader and songwriter, Joseph Macielag has played a significant role in preserving the Polish-American polka tradition in Western New York. In 1954, he formed the nine-piece Melody Bells Orchestra, which later evolved into the Pic-APolka Orchestra. The group appeared on WGR-TV’s Pic-APolka program through 1965 and subsequently continued on radio. Macielag’s orchestra released three albums featuring songs he wrote, including selections he performed in Polish. After decades of performing throughout the region, Macielag received national recognition for his contributions to polka music when he was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 2018 in the Pioneer category.
• MARC SCIBILIA: Born and raised in Niagara Falls & Grand Island, Marc Scibilia has developed an international career as a singer-songwriter, recording artist, producer, and collaborator, building a distinctive sound that blends folk, country, rock, soul, and contemporary pop. Scibilia moved to Nashville after high school to pursue music full-time. His career has since included solo albums, songwriting partnerships, international chart success, and performances for audiences around the world. His collaboration with German DJ and producer Robin Schulz on Unforgettable achieved Gold certification and reached No. 1 on radio charts in Germany. His cover of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land also reached a massive audience when it appeared in a 2015 Super Bowl advertising campaign. Beyond his own recordings, Scibilia has written and produced music for other artists, with credits involving performers such as Keith Urban, Teddy Swims, Ben Rector, and Lennon Stella. His songs have appeared in television productions and major advertising campaigns, further expanding his international reach. With hundreds of millions of streams across his music and successful headline tours, Scibilia represents a new generation of Western New York artists whose work connects local roots with a global audience.
• JOSEPH ZARRILLO: A versatile bassist, recording artist, songwriter, and performer, Joseph Zarrillo built an extensive musical career during 30 years in Los Angeles, working across rock, pop, blues, funk, fusion, soul, reggae, and other genres. His career includes performing with soul legend Solomon Burke, playing at renowned Los Angeles venues, and recording on more than 200 songs at distinguished studios, including The Village Recorder, Capitol Records, and Sound City. As a co-owner of a demo recording studio, Zarrillo also engineered and performed on sessions involving accomplished artists, including Peter Criss of KISS. Now active in the Western New York music community, he continues to perform with regional musicians and bands while contributing his broad recording and performance experience to the local scene.
• RICHARD RAY FARRELL: Born in Niagara Falls, Richard Ray Farrell has earned international recognition as a blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and harmonica player. His career has taken him from the streets of Paris to stages throughout Europe and beyond, establishing him as an accomplished performer and ambassador for the blues. Farrell’s international journey demonstrates how musical talent emerging from Niagara Falls can find an audience around the world while maintaining a connection to its roots.
• K. MICHAEL SIKKAS: We will be honoring the enduring legacy of K. Michael Sikkas with his posthumous induction into the NFMusicHOF. He began his musical journey as a guitarist and songwriter in Niagara Falls, eventually developing a career that extended into the upper levels of the North American recording industry. After forming the group Hood Robin with Frank Grizanti and securing a recording contract with United Artists Canada, Sikkas continued his songwriting and music industry career in Toronto and Los Angeles. His professional experience included working with radio personality Wolfman Jack, Johnny Rivers’ publishing company, and major music organizations. Sikkas subsequently held senior management positions and worked in artist and repertoire, music publishing, songwriting, and music supervision with Arista Records, PolyGram, Mercury Records, and Gold Circle Records. In 2004, he became senior vice president of the ViaStar Artist Management Group. His journey from local guitarist and songwriter to an experienced music industry executive highlights the many ways musicians and industry professionals from the Niagara region have contributed to the wider music business. At the ceremony, his memory and musical contributions will be honored by fellow musicians and NFMusicHOF inductees Ron LaSalle and Frank Grizanti.
The evening will also recognize Norma Higgs, recipient of the Dr. Sam Morreale Music Support Award. The award celebrates the importance of those whose encouragement, dedication, and support help musicians and the broader music community thrive. Norma was a freelance music journalist with a regular column in the Niagara Gazette. She has written widely, sharing accounts of the local music history and notably authored extensive pieces on regional icons. Her recognition underscores the Hall of Fame’s commitment to honoring not only performers but also the people who make lasting musical contributions possible.
Tickets for Nov. 5’s ceremony at the Bears Den are available through Ticketmaster or in person at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Box Office.
For additional information, contact the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame at nfmusichof@ gmail.com or visit its website at nfmusichof.org
The Niagara Falls region has produced musicians who have performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, recorded with internationally recognized artists, shaped the music industry behind the scenes,
