Monday, May 7, 2018
Nick Ziobro ’17 also performed at Lincoln Center since finishing his degree
by Robert Leitner ’17
Three months after finishing his bachelor’s degree in musical theatre, Rider University alumnus Nick Ziobro ’17 performed on stage at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center — two of the most prestigious venues in the world.
On March 21, Ziobro performed three numbers in Carnegie Hall’s newest addition, Zankel Hall. He sang 'All Of Me,' 'Nature Boy' and 'Too Close For Comfort,' all with a trio of piano, bass and drums behind him. Since opening in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence by hosting an honor roll of music-making artists ranging from Billie Holiday to The Beatles.
“Carnegie is amazing because they are designed to be the top venue in the world,” Ziobro says. “Their sound equipment is state of the art, great acoustics and Zankle Hall has a beautiful grand piano on stage.”
Ziobro has played piano since the second grade, and at 15 years old, he won the five time Grammy Award nominee Michael Feinstein’s 2012 Great American Songbook contest. As a result, he spent four years touring the U.S. with Feinstein. (Both Ziobro’s performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center were apart of Feinstein’s shows.)
On March 28, Ziobro performed two solo songs and a group number with an entire band behind him in the Apple Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
“I have performed at this venue before but this show was attributed to the Rat Pack, so it was a very cool experience to be a part of,” says Ziobro. “We had a big band on stage and I sang 'Fools Rush In,' 'Too Close For Comfort' and the group song was 'Once in Our Life.'”
Since finishing his academic requirements in December 2017, Ziobro has been living in New York City and performing in various concerts while auditioning for a variety of roles. He credits the fine arts faculty for preparing him to enter the industry.
“The faculty at Rider prepares you in a way that allows you to be ready for the level of professionalism that many people in this industry expect and require,” says Ziobro. “They have everyone’s best interest at heart. They expect students to show up with their best work and to improve as an individual artist.”
Ziobro plans to produce a Christmas album this summer, and he will continue to work toward the dream of landing a Broadway show. Also, he will continue to perform as it provides him with something that other non-artistic careers may lack.
“Performing is relative to anyone who watches it,” Ziobro explains. “People come to performances to escape from real life, and allowing them to do so is pretty special. It’s our job to help them escape for a few hours by listening to music or telling a captivating story — anything that provokes thought and strikes at somebody’s heart. This doesn’t really exist in any other career.”