User:Landplane123/sandbox5
Nicole Zuraitis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | Dan Pugach |
| Awards | Grammy Award |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Website | nicolezmusic |
Nicole Zuraitis is an American jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, and arranger.[1][2] She won a Grammy Award in 2024 for Best Jazz Vocal Album for How Love Begins as well as being nominated for a Grammy Award in 2019 and 2025.[1] She has shared the stage with with artists Dave Brubeck, Jon Batiste, Keb' Mo', and LeeAnn Rimes [3][4] and has collaborated with Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]Nicole Zuraitis was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to parents Brett and Jeanette Zuraitis and is of Lithuanian and Italian decent.[6][7][8][9] She began singing at 11 years of age and played trombone and percussion in middle school. She attended Litchfield public schools and played competitive soccer until she was injured during a game in France.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Zuraitis began to sing jazz with a local community college big band after being encouraged by her high school music director and attended Litchfield Jazz Camp, which she attributes to her early interest in jazz.[10][11]
Zuraitis studied classical voice at New York University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music in 2007 and later earned her Master's Degree from LSU Shreveport.[12] After a brief period performing opera professionally after graduation, she moved back to New York City to pursue songwriting and jazz in 2009.[6][13][14]
Career
[edit]Zuraitis has released six albums; Spread the Word (2008), Pariah Anthem (2012), Hive Mind (2017), Live at Two-Headed Calf with Brandon Scott Coleman (2018), Cafės & Conversations (2023), and How Love Begins (2024).
In 2019, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals for her performance of Dolly Parton’s Jolene in collaboration with Dan Pugach.[1] In 2024, she won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Where Love Begins and in 2025, was nominated for Best Jazz Performance for Little Fears.
Zuraitis is a featured vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and has performed at jazz Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel, 54 Below and the 55 Bar. She has performed as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and Macon Pops and has accompanied singers including Melanie, Morgan James, Darren Criss, and Livingston Taylor on piano and vocals. Additional awards include BroadwayWorld's Cabaret Award, IMEA Best Jazz Album Award, the Johnny Mercer Award in the American Traditions Competition, the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal, and she was a runner-up in the The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.[2][15]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Nominated work | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Little Fears | Best Jazz Peformance | Grammy Award | Nominated |
| 2024 | How Love Begins | Best Jazz Vocal Album | Grammy Award | Won |
| 2024 | Birdland Jazz | Best Big Band/Swing Show[16] | BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award | Won |
| 2021 | Vocal Competition[17] | American Tradition Vocal Competition | Won | |
| 2019 | Jolene | Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals | Grammy Award | Nominated |
| 2014 | Herb Alpert Young Composer Award | ASCAP | Won |
Personal life
[edit]Zuraitis married drummer and composer Dan Pugach in 2018,[18] they currently reside in Connecticut.[19]
Zuraitis teaches at the vocal faculty at New York University,[20] and at the jazz vocal faculty at the State University of New York at Purchase. She is a Jazz Vocal Instructor at Litchfield Jazz Camp.[21]
Discography
[edit]As leader
[edit]- How Love Begins (Extended Edition 2024)[22]
- How Love Begins (2024)[23]
- Cafės & Conversations (2023)[24]
- All Wandering Hearts (2020)[25]
- Live at Two-Headed Calf - with Brandon Scott Coleman (2018)
- Hive Mind (2017)
- Pariah Anthem (2012)[26]
- Spread the Word (2008)
As group
[edit]- Sonica– with Thana Alexa, Julia Adamy (hana Alexa Pavelic, Nicole Zuraitis, Julia Sinclair Pederson, Outside in Music, 2022)[27]
As guest
[edit]- Bianca Reimagined – Dan Pugach Nonet (Outside In Music, Dan Pugach, 2024)[28]
- Ona – Thana Alexa (Independent, 2020)
- All About Love – Elise Testone (2020)
- Plus One – Dan Pugach Nonet (2018)
- Day Dream – Carmen Staaf Sextet (2017)
- Wishes on a Neon Sign – Abbie Gardner (2017)
- Come to Paradise – Suzanne Dean (2016)
- Sealine Woman – With Nikki and The Riot (2016)
- Right Here – Andrea Daly (2016)
- Take Some Air – EVA (2015)
- Something New – Jennifer Sullivan (2014)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Artist Nicole Zuraiitis". Grammy. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Lynch, Joe. "Grammys 2019 Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "Dave Brubeck To Do Norfolk Benefit by Owen McNally" Hartford Courant, Page CAL17, June 18, 2009
- ^ "Nicole Zuraiitis". Rochester Jazz. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "The Nicole Zuraitis Quartet". The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center. The Arts Council, Inc. November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b Nyberg, Ann (10 July 2019). "Nyberg: Nicole Zuraitis, Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, composer @2:42 and 3:49". News 8. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis, West Haven Grammy winner, cited by Borer for 'musical excellence' at City Hall reception". City of West Haven. June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis Vocalist". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "KLAIPĖDA JAZZ ORCHESTRA ANF NICOLE ZURAITIS (USA) | Birstonas jazz".
- ^ "Meet Nicole Zuraitis". Canvas Rebel. October 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis Vocalist". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "Post University Announces Grammy Award-Winning Nicole Zuraitis as 2024 Commencement Speaker". Post. April 24, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ "25 NYU'ers Nominated for 37 Grammy Awards". NYU. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "Events in Connecticut for Nov. 2-8, 2014". The New York Times. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ Orten, Maddie. "NJPAC Honors Sarah Vaughan with Annual Jazz Vocal Competition". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "Winners Announced For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards". BroadwayWolrd. January 17, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ "2021 (VIRTUAL) AMERICAN TRADITIONS VOCAL COMPETITION". ATC Savannah. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Ofgang, Erik; Wollschlager, Mike; Yuravich, Albie; Shameer Cohen, Sherry; Goncalves, Nicole; Brown, Pamela (29 January 2020). "Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, class of 2020". ctpost.com. Hearst Media Services CT. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". NYU – Steinhardt. New York University. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "How Love Begins (Extended Edition)". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Bilawsky, Dan (25 August 2023). "Album Review: Nicole Zuraitis: How Love Begins". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Nicole Zuraitis EP Release Concert". Drom. DromNYC. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "All Wandering Hearts". All About Jazz. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ "From Soccer Star to Jazz Jewel" Hartford Courant, Page G1, December 16, 2012
- ^ "Sonica". Spotify. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Bianca Reimagined". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
External links
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