Cara Campanelli is an award-winning vocalist and bandleader, whose petite frame conceals a powerful and deeply haunting voice. Her style harkens back to the great vocalists of the Big Band Era, evoking the glamour and sophistication of classic jazz as few modern vocalists can. Originally from New York, Cara began singing and performing in a variety of styles from a young age. She attended Boston College, where she delved into world music, continued her jazz vocal studies, and earned a BA in Music. Since then, she has performed throughout the New England and Tri-State areas with her quartet, The Cara Campanelli Group.
Early on in her musical career, Cara was singled out by DownBeat magazine, who named her an Outstanding Vocalist. She went on to share the stage with jazz great Roberta Gamborini at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and was named a "talent to watch" by the legendary trumpeter Wayne Bergeron following her vocal performance at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. Her LP, So Near, received critical acclaim both in the states and abroad, earning international distribution. Cara's 2013 original single Poor Heart marked a maturing approach that reinterpreted the '40s torch song for a modern audience. Her video for the song went on to win Best Music Video at the New York City Independent Film Festival. She is currently working on her second album, and performing with a variety of jazz ensembles in the Boston area as well as her own Cara Campanelli Group.