Hillsborough Man Returns From Las Vegas School of Magic

Submitted by Conrad Cologne

Not everyone who goes to Vegas returns home richer than they left, but Hillsborough resident Conrad Cologne says he did just that. 

Cologne went to Las Vegas to study at the McBride Magic and Mystery School, operated by Las Vegas headliner Jeff McBride and his teacher, Eugene Burger. He attended so on a full-tuition scholarship awarded to him through the Society of American Magicians’ Magic Endowment Fund. 

While in Vegas, Cologne not only got to work with McBride and Burger, but also met magic legend Siegfried Fischbacher, of magic duo Siegfried and Roy, along with Harrah's Hotel and Casino headliner Mac King. Cologne also performed his favorite sleight of hand—the signed dollar bill in orange in front of The Bellagio Hotel and casino.

“I guess you could say I’ve performed on the Strip in Las Vegas, now!" he said. "If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.”

Cologne had his first experience with magic at the age of three when his godfather showed him a card trick; he soon caught the magic bug. Since then, Cologne has joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 200 and has won multiple magic awards, including being the youngest performer ever to win the Al Hillman Excellence in Magic Award. 

Cologne’s unique style of performing encompasses many different forms of magic, ranging from fun filled stage magic to astonishing close-up magic. He presents his show all around the central New Jersey area.

Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger are the founders of the McBride Magic & Mystery School. Both were named among the 100 most influential magicians of the 20th century by magician’s trade magazine MAGIC, and have won numerous awards between them. They have been teaching together since 1987, conducting over a dozen class events each year, ranging from their popular extended Master Classes, and classes teaching magic to doctors, to a yearly seminar on “Magic & Meaning” and more. 

At least once a year they take the school “on the road,” this year to the U.K. and Amsterdam. Former students have won awards at every major convention in the US, and even at the international championship known as F.I.S.M. 

To learn more about Cologne and his magic, check out his website.