Stetson School of Music alumni David Wise (BM ’97) and Adjunct Professor of Music Education Craig Uppercue (BME ’04 / Ed.S. ’25) have come together as creatives on HIKO, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest show aboard the brand-new vessel Luna, currently being built and rehearsed in Venice, Italy.

The futuristic HIKO will feature acrobatics, 3D mapping, and video projection set to an original score composed by David Wise. Craig was brought in to consult on the show’s high-energy percussion and extensive instrumentation setup.

Luna sails to the U.S. this March, welcoming thousands of guests each week—a proud Stetson moment from DeLand to the high seas. 🚢

Learn more about David Wise:

A full-time session singing, arranging, and producing veteran of over 25 years, David calls Nashville, TN, his home. He is a top producer and long-time vocal contractor. As a session singer, he has sung on thousands of recordings over the years. Some of his most recent work includes collaborations with artists such as Josh Groban, Blake Shelton, Celine Dion, Cody Fry, Matt Maher, Natalie Grant, OneRepublic, Lady A, Dolly Parton, Walt Disney World, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Nashville Christmas Parade, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and The Jersey Boys movie soundtrack.

David was also the featured voice on the pop single for the longest-running fireworks show in Disney history, Wishes. A Dove Award winner and recent nominee, David is also a well-respected arranger in Nashville. He has published arrangements with Word Music, Lifeway Music, Capitol Music Group, and J.W. Pepper.

David has arranged thousands of vocal projects for Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, SeaWorld, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and many others. Over the past five years, he has expanded his studio experience into high-end production projects. Some of David’s current production credits include Seaward, Norwegian Cruise Line, Sheryl Lee Ralph, MSC Cruise Lines, Azamara Cruise Lines, and The Nashville Christmas Holiday Special.

This past summer, David and Jeremy Johnson won the Paris Film Festival Award for Best Original Song, “Something to Say,” from the new film Into the Spotlight. David is also the co-composer of a new musical work, Esther. This project is a collaboration representing his life’s work, and he had the honor of seeing the show in full production this past summer in Houston, featuring Sharna Burgess.

David is married to Heather, and they have four children: Hannah, Taylor, Dawson, and Autumn.