Being one of six siblings can undoubtedly become a little stressful at times, but Nancy Micciulla has finally fond a way to get the recognition she deserves. For the past 10 years, she has been developing her musical talent, both vocally and on guitar, and enjoying every second in the spotlight.
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Nancy Micciulla will play regularly at various venues in the area, including Bayside and Nantucket’s in Fenwick Island.
“It’s a thrill in general,” Micciulla said, “when people are watching and listening.”
It’s not much of a surprise that she was bit by the musical bug. Her father, a pianist and instructor, used to play her and her siblings to sleep at night.
“Music was pretty much engraved in me from that point,” she said. “It’s been in my blood for a while now.”
Most of her other siblings play or have played a variety of instruments, as well.
At an early age, Micciulla took a stab at classical piano, clarinet, and even trumpet, although none seemed to suit her. It wasn’t until a decade ago, when she picked up a guitar, that she found her true musical calling.
From that point, she began writing her own music and trying her hand at cover songs, too. Last summer, she started playing her own gigs, performing well-known, classic tunes throughout the area.
Micciulla admits that much of her inspiration comes from female musicians, such as Patty Griffin, Indigo Girls, Ani DiFranco and Jewel. David Gray, Counting Crows and Joni Mitchell also head the musical taste that Micciulla brings to the stage.
“The songs I cover are ones that I enjoy,” she said, “and ones that people like to sing along to. I really like when others can get into my music and are enjoying what I play.”
She has performed frequently at open-mic nights, including ones held last summer at Seacret’s in Ocean City. She performed this year in the annual Delaware Music Festival held at the Ruddertown complex in Dewey Beach, and even came out on top in a battle of the bands with two of her original works.
She still remains a little modest about her own music, though.
“I’m taking the whole recording thing one day at a time,” she admitted. “Like a lot of people, I’m my own worst critic, so I’m hesitant to play some of my own songs a lot of the time.”
She has made an attempt to record her own music, but she is not in any rush.
“It’s kind of odd what hits me and inspires me to write a song,” she said. “Sometimes, it can be a tragic event, but other times, it can be something really small. I really never know what will come along and inspire me.” Her few recordings have received assistance from musician Scott Haskitt.
However, the spotlight is becoming more and more familiar to Micciulla, and with her summer lineup of gigs, she can’t quite afford to have it otherwise. The Delaware and Maryland shores had originally been vacation spots for her family, who would travel in the summer from their native Philadelphia, but for the past six years, she’s called the area her home.
This Tuesday, June 23, she will perform as the fourth installment of the 2007 Summer Concert Series at the Sea Colony Marketplace Courtyard, adding to the likes of local favorites such as Wes Davis, Kevin Poole and Rick Kennedy who have already entertained there.
Listeners can enjoy the free Tuesday evening shows, sponsored by Seacoast Realty and First Republic Mortgage, from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on their own beach blankets and chairs, or while dining and shopping at the Marketplace’s establishments.
Micciulla will be performing throughout the area this summer, at different locations, too, including Bayside and Nantucket’s restaurant in Fenwick Island, Cottage Café in Bethany Beach, and Arena’s in Rehoboth Beach. She’ll also be making her way down to Ocean City to the Blue Ox Steakhouse, Rio Grande Pool Bar and Duffy’s Tavern.
Micciulla admits she still gets butterflies before taking the stage at a new location.
“I still get a little nervous at new venues that I haven’t played before,” she said. “But as long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll be fine. Once I know the crowd and get used the place, I really start to have a good time with it.”
For more information about Micciulla and her schedule, visit www.myspace.com/nancymicciulla on the Internet.