Songbook Academy Alum Nick Ziobro to Join Michael Feinstein & Naples Philharmonic in Concert Tonight

Nick Ziobro, winner of the 2012 Songbook Academy, will join multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein in performance at Artis - Naples during his engagement on February 19-20 with the Naples Philharmonic. Michael Feinstein conducts the Naples Philharmonic for the first time during this engagement.

Michael Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2007 in order to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the music of the Great American Songbook to future generations. The work of the Songbook Foundation includes educational programming, a reference library, archive and gallery, the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame, and the annual high school Songbook Academy. Applications for the 2016 Songbook Academy are now being accepted. Visit www.TheSongbook.org to learn more.

"I created the Songbook Academy to foster young artists who have an interest in the American Songbook, which includes the music of classic Broadway, Jazz standards, and popular music," said Michael Feinstein, founder of the program and the organization called the Great American Songbook Foundation. "Through this program, we are reaching a new generation to teach the music of the American Songbook and the history that inspired and influenced its composers."

Nick Ziobro served as the 2012 Songbook Youth Ambassador. A native of upstate New York, he is now a sophomore at Rider University. In his role as Youth Ambassador, Nick shared the stage with Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, and Barry Manilow, among other notables. His debut album, A Lot of Livin' To Do - produced by Michael Feinstein and featuring jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli, Tedd Firth, Jay Leonhart and more - was released in May 2014.

Feinstein returns to Naples and - for the first time - conducts the Naples Philharmonic! Grammy winner Lari White and Songbook Alum Nick Ziobro will be his guests. Both the February 19 and 20 shows at Artis - Naples begin at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ArtisNaples.org by phone 239-597-1900, or at the box office at 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 34108-2740