Show business runs in the family for Nicole Kapiniaris, who will sing the national anthem in front of 30 000 people at the RMIT University Graduation ceremony in December.
I had a little giggle, but really it’s quite an honour.
The young performer, whose second-cousin is the famous Greek Australian comedian George Kapiniaris, this week won the annual RMIT Idol competition.
“I had a little giggle, but really it’s quite an honour,” she said.
RMIT Idol, which is open to all RMIT students, awarded Ms Kapiniaris and co-winner Fabian Claveria $1 000 and the chance to perform at the graduation ceremony at Etihad Stadium.
She’s about to finish a post-graduate diploma in primary teaching, but Ms Kapiniaris has already forged quite a career as a performer.
“I used to work on cruise ships as a lead singer in the musical productions on board, and that was awesome, and things always come up,” she said.
The 27 year-old has a degree in musical theatre and sings regularly with ABBA tribute band, BABBA.
Ms Kapiniaris, who sang ABBA’s ‘Fernando’ in the competition, said she was reminded of her love for the Swedish pop band on a recent school camp.
“I think Fernando was one of those first ballads that I warmed to, and it’s got a bit of childhood significance for me,” she said.
“It was played on repeat many times throughout the day.”