ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Freshman Nick Drivas has been invited to perform with Grammy Award-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein asΒ part of the βMichael Feinstein: A Sinatra Centennialβ concert Jan. 29 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
A multi-platinum-selling performer, Feinstein is nicknamed βThe Ambassador of the Great American Songbook.β He is one of todayβs top interpreters of American standards with more than 200 performances a year celebrating and preserving American popular song β particularly with tributes to Frank Sinatra.
Under the instruction of Feinstein at The Songbook Academy in 2014, Drivas attained invaluable lessons as he visualized the goal to expose the golden age of American popular music of the 1920s-60s to younger audiences.
A national finalist in The Great American Songbook Academy and Competition that year, he received the opportunity of week-long master classes with Feinstein and to perform in his βSinatra Centennialβ tour.
βMichael has given me incredible advice,βsaid Drivas. βHe is very kind, very gracious and being such a prominent artist he is I take every word of guidance very seriously. It has been incredible working with him.
With a stop in OrlandoΒ for his βSinatra Centennialβ tour, Feinstein invited Drivas to join him on stage. Drivas will sing βI Have Dreamedβ at the concert.
The 18-year-old hadΒ experience in numerous theatrical productions as a high school studentΒ at the Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto.
Drivas chose ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ to pursue his studies in musical theatre because βit just felt like it was where I should be.β In his first semester at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, he was chosen as the understudy for the lead role of Claude in the musicalΒ Hair.
βHaving one of our students selected for this event reinforces the quality of our training program and the level of talent our students in the BFA musical theatre program possess,β said Earl D. Weaver, coordinator of musical theatre and artistic director for Theatre ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½. βNick is a new student in our program, and he has proven himself to be a wonderful addition to our department. We are very happy he has been selected for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.β
βMichael Feinstein: A Sinatra CentennialβΒ will beΒ at the Dr. Phillips Center on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at .