Nicole Mariani has been playing string bass, electric bass, and reeds for nearly 20 years, beginning with a volunteer jazz band she and her friends started in middle school. She played consistently throughout high school and college, eventually ending up in the University of Notre Dame’s marching, jazz, and concert bands. She also played a number of musical theater shows around campus, including for ND’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, PEMCo student musical group, and Opera Notre Dame. During her time at ND she was the recipient of several awards, including top jazz soloist award at ND’s Collegiate Jazz Festival 2015, and back-to-back Director’s awards for outstanding marching band member in 2013 and 2014.

Since Notre Dame, Nicole has performed with a number of amateur and semi-pro bands, both in her original home state of Connecticut and more recently in her new home state of Arizona. She currently plays saxophone with the Oro Valley Jazz Band, auxiliary percussion with Tucson's Little Big Band, clarinet with Desert Chameleon community band, and upright and electric bass with Fever Jazz Quartet. Nicole is always looking for new opportunities to play music!