Contact:
Mike Ferlazzo
570-577-3212
570-238-6266
mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu

Meet the Student Soloist for Bucknell’s 173rd Commencement

Kicking off Commencement with a rendition of the national anthem will be Tom McKillop ’23, a music and history double-major from Scarsdale, N.Y.

Like most kids, McKillop began singing on stage in elementary school music programs, but it was in middle school and high school that he ultimately found a home at center stage. He thanks his high school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors for giving him the confidence to fully pursue performance.

“Playing a main role as a sophomore allowed me to step into the spotlight in a way that I hadn’t yet,” he says. “It validated my talent and shaped my love of music and musical theatre.”

As a music major at Bucknell, McKillop honed in on vocal performance and sought out additional opportunities through programs like Bucknell Voice Lab, which offers training in a variety of genres – from musical theatre and opera to jazz and singer-songwriter.

As far as his favorite musical experience at Bucknell, “it’d have to be directing the Beyond Unison a cappella group,” McKillop says. “It’s definitely contributed to my growth as a leader and a musician. A lot of musicians are perfectly talented on their own, but I got to blend the talents of 16 individuals and help them grow and succeed together. That was the biggest highlight for me.”

When it comes to singing the “Star Spangled Banner” for his family, mentors and classmates, McKillop says he couldn’t be more excited.

“I’ve never sung the national anthem at a big event, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says. “I won’t be pursuing music after Bucknell, so this could be the last time that a lot of people – including my family – hear me sing on a public stage. I’m excited to perform at Commencement as a thank you to them.”

With hopes of becoming a history teacher, McKillop will pursue a master’s in social studies education at Columbia University’s Teachers College after graduation.

Bucknell’s 173rd Commencement
This year’s Commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 14, 2023, on Malesardi Quadrangle. Tickets are not required for Commencement if held outside on Malesardi Quad.

As in past years, the ceremony will be livestreamed on Bucknell’s Commencement web page and Facebook page.

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Tom McKillop ’23