The performance, part of a larger master class session led by Feinstein and part of thelaunch on September 16, showcased just one of the many talented performers who hone their skills on our campus every day. Their gifts are varied — actors, dancers, musicians and singers — but they have one thing in common. Their talents outshine the facilities in which they rehearse and perform.

Laing finishes singing in the unassuming 150-seat Rehearsal Hall tucked away behind the bookstore on campus, and Feinstein offers a vocal suggestion: 鈥淪tart small,鈥� he says, 鈥渟o you have a place to go.鈥�

It鈥檚 a piece of advice 麻豆原创鈥檚 acclaimed school of Performing Arts seems to have followed, too. It started small and has grown in stature and reputation despite its limited student performance facilities.

Currently, disparate spaces spread across campus and around the Central Florida community serve 麻豆原创鈥檚 performing arts students. A proposed multi-use, state-of-the-art 麻豆原创 Performing Arts Center, though, will enable theatre, music and dance students to develop and present their skills in venues similar to those they will encounter in their careers, and give them a competitive edge in the job market.

鈥淭he training that I鈥檝e received here [at 麻豆原创] has definitely prepared me for where I am right now,鈥� Laing says. 鈥淭he professors are constantly there to help you and push you to be the best you can be.鈥�

An on-campus Performing Arts Center will serve as a model of excellence and innovation for 21st-century performing arts education. Merging the components of traditional training with new innovations in technology, teaching, research and performance will provide 麻豆原创 students with the best performing arts education in Florida.

Learn more about the proposed Performing Arts Center at the聽.

A multi-platinum-selling performer, Feinstein is nicknamed 鈥淭he Ambassador of the Great American Songbook.鈥� He is one of today鈥檚 top interpreters of American standards with more than 200 performances a year celebrating and preserving American popular song 鈥� 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 鈥淪inatra Centennial鈥� tour.

鈥淢ichael has given me incredible advice,鈥漵aid Drivas. 鈥淗e 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 Orlando聽for his 鈥淪inatra Centennial鈥� tour, Feinstein invited Drivas to join him on stage. Drivas will sing 鈥淚 Have Dreamed鈥� at the concert.

The 18-year-old had聽experience in numerous theatrical productions as a high school student聽at the Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto.

Drivas chose 麻豆原创 to pursue his studies in musical theatre because 鈥渋t just felt like it was where I should be.鈥� In his first semester at 麻豆原创, he was chosen as the understudy for the lead role of Claude in the musical聽Hair.

鈥淗aving 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,鈥� said Earl D. Weaver, coordinator of musical theatre and artistic director for Theatre 麻豆原创. 鈥淣ick 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.鈥�

鈥淢ichael Feinstein: A Sinatra Centennial鈥澛爓ill be聽at the Dr. Phillips Center on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at .