After a guest appearance on Sesame Street, meeting Stevie Wonder and performing at the Dr. Oz gala, it is hard to imagine how Rocco Fiorentino stays so humble; even more so considering he has accomplished all this after being born blind. But, no matter how many awards he wins, he has managed to stay focused on his ultimate goal: music.
“All the awards and recognition is great,” Fiorentino said. “But, the biggest thing they do is allow me to pay for college and that is what is ultimately going to help me get to where I want to be.”
After graduating from Eastern Regional High School this spring, Fiorentino will be attending Berklee College of Music in the fall. It has been his dream to go to Berklee since he was 8 years old, and the scholarships he has been awarded will go very far in helping to pay for his education.
“That has always been my main focus,” Fiorentino said. “I know I want to do something in music, and the only way to get to do that is through education.”
Fiorentino was recently awarded another scholarship by the Foundation for Sight and Sound. And while the scholarship is only for $500, it is worth more than just the money.
“It definitely makes it special since it came from an organization that is trying to raise awareness for blindness,” Fiorentino said. “I have always tried to do my part in spreading the word about blindness, and I am appreciative to any other organizations who do the same.”
The scholarships and volunteer efforts have gotten Fiorentino this far, but now he realizes it is up to him to take the next step. And while college will give him the formal training he needs, to be a performer, he will need to take some risks.
The first risk happened July 21, when he auditioned for The Voice.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I didn’t make it, but I know the experience I gained will help me in my pursuit to become a performer. I just hope to learn from it and move forward to what’s next.”
What’s next is a trip to Boston, where Fiorentino will start his first semester in college this fall. His studies will revolve around music, and while he dreams of being a performer; he is not limiting himself to just one thing.
“I will always perform,” he said. “It would be great if I could make a living performing, but that doesn’t always work out. I can definitely see myself going into music education and that is something I’m definitely going to look into. In an ideal world, I would love to do a combination of both.”
To learn more about Fiorentino’s volunteer efforts and to find a schedule of his performances, visit www.musicbyrocco.com.
