Nia Drummond
Described as a “moving and electrifying performer, by the Wall Street Journal, singer/songwriter, Nia Drummond, has captivated audiences at prominent venues like the Apollo Theater in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She is one of the premier vocal practitioners of Black vernacular music, from spirituals to the music of the present– a powerful voice that resonates throughout any space. Her musical journey started at an early age where she drew inspiration from icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand; since then she has appeared with music legends such as Sir Elton John & Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson, Juicy J of Three Six Mafia, appeared in symphonic works and operas lead by Michael Tilson Thomas and Lorin Maazel, performed for three presidents and various government officials, and even performed for the christening of a Carnival Cruise Lines Ship!
She has appeared with The New York Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Syracuse Opera, New York Pops, St. Petersburg Opera, Opera Ebony and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Nia has been featured on television shows such as Tamron Hall, Access Hollywood, and Great Performances on PBS and has collaborated with artists such as Josh Groban, Ray Chew, Endea Owens. Along with her solo work, Nia has appeared as a background vocalist for the likes of: Bette Midler, Fantasia, John Legend, Billy Joel, PHISH, Deborah Cox, Melvin Crispell, III, and Natasha Bedingfield. Nia was a featured artist during [at] The Intersection, the Apollo Theater’s premier festival of Arts & Ideas. Nia was a featured performer in a performance series released by Steinway & Sons along with “The Piano Prince of New Orleans”, Davell Crawford.
Nia is the 2025 Gold Medal winner of the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Collective, 2x National YoungArts winner, Sherril Milnes American Opera Award Winner, a district and regional winner of the National Association of Negro Musician Voice Compeition, the inaugural recipient of the Gordon Parks Centennial Scholarship Award presented by the Gordon Parks Foundation, inaugural recipient of the Davell Crawford Artist Funding Endowment and was privileged to sing the National Anthem at New York City’s annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Zucotti Park. Currently, Nia is collaborating with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in a live iteration of their signature piece, Revelations, as a featured soloist along with conductor, Damien Sneed. Nia is a creative collaborator in Samora Pinderhughes’ The Healing Project, a boundary breaking multidisciplinary music, film, and installation project.