Nick Mangini

Nick Mangini is a familiar name at the Conservatory – he attended MCW as a student and has been teaching here for more than 30 years, having founded the Conservatory’s drum set program. Many of his students have gone on to college for performance and music education, and have been awarded scholarships.  As a performer, Mangini has recorded and toured with such greats as Wynton Marsalis, Hank Jones, Carmine Leggio, Jose Feliciano, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavalerie, and Liberty Devitto. Nick is also a member of the R&B rock band The All Stars.

What inspires you as a musician?
Hearing and listening to good music.

What are some of your most memorable experiences as a rock drummer, and who are some of the artists you’ve performed with?
I would have to say my most memorable experience was my first time playing in Madison Square Garden. I was playing drums with Ronnie Spector.  At the rehearsals at S.I.R.studios in NYC, I was sitting behind the drums and in walks Liberty Devitto, one of my favorite rock drummers who played on all of Billy Joel‘s great hits. As I stand up to move away from the drum set (thinking that he would be playing drums), Liberty says to me, “Stay on the drums. I am here to play percussion.“ Wow! How cool is that? Me and Liberty playing together – what fun. When we played the show at MSG there were 19,000 people in the audience. The sound system was unbelievably great, and playing with good musicians in the band….. man ….. we were rocking. At the end of the show, I asked Liberty to sign his rock drum book for me, and this is what he wrote: “To Nick.  Maybe someday you will play shakers in my band ……God Bless, Liberty.” Read more »

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