Groban will join a long line of prominent HPU commencement speakers, including Condoleeza Rice, Wolf Blitzer, Steve Wozniak, Laura Bush and many more.

Groban is best known for his career as an international musician. Groban was born in Los Angeles in 1981, and went on to attend Carnegie Melon University, a prestigious arts school located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

He began his career in music and rose to national prominence when he was called at the last minute in 1998 to stand in for Andrea Bocelli during a rehearsal with Celine Dion. The duo performed “ The Prayer,” which became an overnight sensation. In 2007, he was recognized as the bestselling musical artist in the United States.

Groban has won two Billboard Music Awards and has received four Grammy nominations, one of which was for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his single, “You Raise Me Up.” He has also had roles on television shows on shows such as “Glee” and “ The Office,” and he has appeared on multiple daytime talk shows including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “ The Ellen Show.”

Groban is also known for his philan- thropic endeavors, including the VH1 Save the Music Fundraiser and working with the African Children’s Choir. This marks the rest year that HPU has selected a musician to deliver the commencement speech, o ering our 2018 graduates a di erent perspective moving forward in their careers and adult lives.

HPU’s 2018 commencement will be held on May 5, and students are looking forward to having Groban usher them into the next stage of their lives.