VOCALIST
Grammy-nominated New York-based Nicole Zuraitis is a songwriter, vocalist and educator. A veteran of Litchfield Jazz Camp (she began her studies here at age 12!) and a graduate of NYU with a focus on opera, she has already made her mark in the US and abroad. She is the vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and the Dan Pugach Nonet, winner of the New York Coffee Music Project Songwriting Competition, ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award and was a finalist in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Her 2017 Album HIVE MIND won Best Jazz Album in the International Music and Entertainment Awards.
Nicole’s world music folk band EVA tours internationally alongside folk legends Livingston Taylor, Melanie Safka and Tom Chapin. She has performed with The Omar Hakim Experience at the Iridium Jazz Club, Maz of Snarky Puppy, Bernard Purdie, Kung Fu and Elise Testone at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. She is a proud, long-time member of the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty and has led her band on the MainStage of the Litchfield Jazz Festival twice, as well as appeared as a sideman with the Carmen Staaf Quintet and Jen Allen Group.
Her love for jazz education has brought her to songwriting and jazz workshops around the world, including Berklee College of Music, Williams College, Litchfield Jazz Camp, Australian Embassy, Burnt Hills High School Artist in Residence, Israel Embassy, SAM Academy in Chennai India and Miami Arts Charter School. Her newest teaching gig is one at the NYU in the Contemporary Vocal Department at Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. She will also join the Jazz Faculty at SUNY Purchase in New York in the Fall of 2024! Nicole holds residencies in New York City at the 55 Bar and Birdland Jazz Club. www.nicolezmusic.com
