» Trio C.Chéhadé/M.Nicolas/M-H.Trempe Concert - 2011-12 Desjardins Concert
Instrument: Cello
Canadian cellist Michael Nicolas is quickly becoming recognized as one of the rising stars of his generation. He performs in cities across North America, Europe, and Asia, in collaboration with many renowned musicians including Mitsuko Uchida, Richard Goode, James Levine, Kim Kashkashian, Charles Neidich, Paul Neubauer, and members of the Guarneri, Juilliard, Mendelssohn, and St. Lawrence string quartets.
Michael Nicolas is a frequent guest artist with many renowned chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the Met Chamber Ensemble, the New York Philharmonic, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Speculum Musicae, and Musicians from Marlboro. From 2008 to 2010, he held a tenured position as Associate Principal Cellist of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. He also performs at the Marlboro (Vermont), Ravinia (Illinois), Chamber Music Northwest (Portland), and Bridgehampton Chamber Music (New York) festivals, and has recorded for the Universal, Naxos, and Tzadik record labels.
Pursuing his passion for modern music, Michael Nicolas has enjoyed working closely with many distinguished composers, including Charles Wuorinen and Milton Babbitt, and has given world premieres of pieces by Mario Davidovsky and John Zorn.
In the summer, Michael Nicolas spends his time touring Asia as a member of the hugely popular Ensemble Ditto, a chamber music initiative based in South Korea that has garnered extraordinary success in reaching new and diverse classical music audiences. They have achieved a massive fan following, selling out concert halls in Korea and Japan, including the cavernous 5,200-seat Tokyo International Forum.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Michael Nicolas made his concerto debut in 1999 with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and returns regularly to perform recitals and concerts. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School.