A pianist, songwriter, and singer, Lisa Occhino performs with bands at private and company functions, concerts, and non-profit events. She started writing songs at age 12, experimenting with fusing elements of jazz, rock, classical, Latin, and pop genres. On her first self-produced album, Discovery, she performs all of the lead vocals, harmonies, and piano. Lisa has broadened her musical interests to include guitar, harmonica, marimba, xylophone, and other mallet instruments. She is especially passionate about providing children with the opportunity to be exposed to music, which is why 20% of every purchase of a hard copy of her album benefits the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic Outreach music program.
Lisa receives her inspiration from up-and-coming young talent as well as the traditional artists. She has studied with accomplished musicians, recording artists, and vocalists, and has taken music workshops in New York and Connecticut. Lisa has received numerous awards for her musical achievements including the 2010 CT High School Arts Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts, the Stamford Board of Education Excellence in Music award, an Official Citation for Meritorious Achievement from the Lt. Governor of CT, induction into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, First Place and Most Unique at her high school talent shows, selection as a featured artist for the Young Artists Jazz on the Plaza series, and vocalist and section leader for the Gold Cup winners of the 20th International Choir Competition in Italy. She is among less than 1% of songwriters under age 18 invited to showcase her originals at Manhattan’s oldest and most famous rock club, The Bitter End, where thousands of music legends have launched their careers.
A Songwriting and Composition scholarship recipient to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Lisa plans to combine her love for marketing and music by double majoring in songwriting and music business. Lisa's innate sense of rhythm, melody, and harmony, as well as her strong passion for music, are evident to her audiences.