Student artist of the month: Sofia DiGioacchino ’26

Sofia DiGioacchino ’26 has always been surrounded by music. Her love for performing started young with the encouragement of her parents and their passion for theater and acting. Her confidence and wide range of singing styles have enabled her to perform on international and noteworthy stages. Currently, she co-leads a cappella group The Cat’s Meow, is a soloist for Studio Vocals, and is PHS Choir President. She recently toured with Studio Band in Europe.

What’s it like singing a capella?

I love it. I joined Cat’s as a sophomore. It’s such a different experience to create all the music yourself, which is something I never got to experience before Cat’s. A unique part of it is we arrange our own music. So that’s been a side of it that I really enjoy getting to do, now that I’m on the older side of it, I’m arranging the music and collaborating with the other seniors and things like that. It’s so much more fun to put on something you created.

How do you prepare for all your performances?

I have a good ear, so a lot of times I’ve learned songs by playing it and falling asleep to it and putting an AirPod in my ear, because I like to think that subconsciously teaches you it. I don’t know if that’s true, but it works for me. I don’t even need to physically run through it. I just kind of learn everything by ear. I can multitask so I just have things on in the background.

How do you handle performance jitters?

I just have kept performing. I don’t get nervous like I used to. I remember growing up my hands would be shaking. I’d be terrified to get on stage. But now I tell myself before I go on for anything, “Just keep your head on your shoulders, you know how to do it. It’s in your body, it’s in your bones.” And I think that confidence in yourself and preparedness, that’s a huge thing for me. Just knowing your stuff is the first step. Especially when things have really quick turnarounds, like for band, we turn songs around in like 12 hours.

Do you prefer singing to music or singing a capella?

I prefer a cappella when it’s something I’ve written because I know it inside out. I prefer singing with music when it’s not, because there’s something so collaborative about all the instruments coming together in band. There’s something so fun about listening to one of my friends’ solos and then jumping back in.

What has been your favorite performance to date?

This past summer we performed at the Umbria International Jazz Festival in Italy. It was so cool because this is one of the biggest jazz festivals internationally. People fly in far and wide to perform at this place. It’s kind of like Coachella. We’re getting escorted, there’s dressing rooms. We sound checked and you could tell it was professional grade. Then, we do the performance, and it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever been in front of in my life. You’re standing and there’s thousands of people. It was just such an unbelievable experience. I was so proud of myself because I wasn’t nervous. I was just settled with myself because I knew my songs like the back of my hand.

What experiences have you had going on tour at PHS?

I’ve been so blessed to have the opportunity to be on three tours. First, I went on PJO two summers ago, my summer going into junior year. I got the opportunity really randomly. I was going to audition for band my sophomore year, but chickened out because my friend chickened out. [Bongiovi, one of the band teachers,] needed another vocalist at the end of that year, and pulled me aside after I performed in Cabaret for the choir. He was just like, “Do you want to go sing in Italy over the summer?” I was like, “What is that question? Of course!” That was a big turnaround and it’s the biggest blessing in my life. I made some of my best friends, I had the best time in my life. It taught me so much about myself, about performing, to introduce me to jazz which is now my favorite thing.

For choir, I had so much fun. My roommates were great and I learned so much. We performed maybe three or four times and everything else was learning. And I have the incredible opportunity of going to Europe again next week, which I’m so excited about.

Who’s your favorite artist at the moment?

Amy Winehouse and Stevie Wonder. Both in their own ways set the blueprints. I just think that their music is just so perfect to me in both their own ways. It’s very different but I would say Amy more vocally, and Stevie, he broke the mold.

Are you planning on pursuing music in the future?

I definitely am but I’m not applying for a major in college. Everywhere I’m applying I’m either looking at the vocal minor programs or the band, a cappella, choir opportunities that the schools have.