Music
Nick originally started his music career in 5th grade on the French horn. In a band of roughly 72, 3 were French horns, including Nick. As time went on and people dropped out of band, Nick stayed in it, progressing his musical abilities to where they are today. Nick has consistently been performing NYSSMA solos for each years solo festival for Zone 7, and performed his final solo for French horn in Bethlehem, NY just outside the capital. Nick currently serves as principal horn in his schools wind ensemble, vice-president for his schools chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Co-President for his schools drama club, and drum major for his schools marching band. Nick has performed in all of the honors bands for his state, including the Zone 7 Area-All State festival as principal horn in the orchestra directed by Dr. Emily Schaad from SUNY Fredonia, and as a French horn in the NYSSMA All State Symphonic Band led by Mr. Jeffery Grogan from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. Nick wishes to continue his studies aligned with the path of music, and is hopeful to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Grogan.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
As a proud student of Rensselaer's music program, Nick gets to take his music abilities to a whole new level, so at the same time that he is learning to become an engineer, he is also developing his abilities to become a musician at the same time.
Nick has numerous performances/concerts at RPI at the Curtis Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), the dates and information of which can be found using the button located to the right. As concerts go by, the list of previous concerts below will be updated.
Please note that for the Fall 2024 semester, Nick was only a part of the Rensselaer Concert Choir due to
scheduling conflicts with the Rensselaer Orchestra.
Family Weekend - Oct. 19, 2024
Pieces Performed:
Copland - Old American Songs "Zions Walls"
Brahms - Ein deutsches Requiem, “Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras"
Verdi - "Patria oppressa" from Macbeth (with orchestra)
Holiday Concert - Dec. 7, 2024
Pieces Performed:
Thorvaldsdottir - Heyr þú oss himnum á
Brahms – Ein deutsches Requiem, “Wie lieblich sind deinen Wohnungen”
Arr. J. David Moore – Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Rensselaer Orchestra & Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) Collaborative Concert - April 5, 2025
Pieces Performed:
Moussa - Elysium
Reed - Concerto for Oboe with Strings
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
Rensselaer Concert Choir Spring Concert
Pieces Performed:
Thorvaldsdottir - Heyr þú oss himnum á
Brahms – Ein deutsches Requiem, “Wie lieblich sind deinen Wohnungen”
Grieg - Ave Maris Stella
Rheinberger - Abendlied
Arr. S.A. Otieno – Sigalagala
Pieces currently listed are tentative
Family Weekend Concert
6 PM Saturday, October 25, 2025
Orchestra
Mazzoli – Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)
Gershwin – “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, featuring 2025 RPI Concerto Competition winner Avery Roach ’25, tenor
Smetana - Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), Mvt. 2, “Die Moldau”
Choir
Chesnokov – Salvation is Created
Tin – Baba Yetu
Presidents' Holiday Concert
7 PM Saturday, December 6, 2025 EMPAC Concert Hall
Orchestra
Smetana – Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), Mvt. 2, “Die Moldau”
Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso featuring 2025 RPI Concerto Competition winner Reese Bush ’27
Stucky – Funeral Music for Queen Mary, performed by RPI Orchestra’s Winds and Percussion
Bernstein – “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide, with the RPI Choir, RPI Wind Symphony, the Rensselyrics and special guests
Choir
Chesnokov – Salvation is Created
Lauridsen – “O Nata Lux” from Lux aeterna
Tin – Baba Yetu
Inaugural Festival of Lessons and Carols with the RPI Choir
In partnership with RPI’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Durufle – Ubi Caritas
Chesnokov – Salvation is Created
U2/R. Chilcott – MLK
Brahms – “Wie lieblich sind diene Wohnungen” from Ein deutches Requiem
Thorvalsdottir – Heyr þú oss himnum á
Rachmaninov – Bogoroditse Djevo from All-Night Vigil
Kotilainen – Varpunen jouluaamuna
Wadding/arr. David Willcocks – Sussex Carol
Spring Sounds Festival 2026
Sponsored by the RPI School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the Department of Arts
April 9 & 10, 2026 EMPAC Concert Hall
Orchestra
He Zhanhao and Chen Gang – Butterfly Lovers Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, featuring 2025 RPI Concerto Competition Winner Lawrence Miao ’25
Grieg – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, featuring 2025 RPI Concerto Competition Winner Armstrong Wang ’27
Choir
Tallis – Te lucis ante terminum
Tallis – O Nata Lux
Tallis – If Ye Love Me
Improvised by Students from Zimbabwe and South Africa/Arr. André Van der Merwe – Nkosi Sikelela Afrika
Biebl – Ave Maria
Lauridsen – Lux aeterna
April Concert - ESYO Collaboration - Mahler Symphony 1
2 PM Saturday, April 19th, 2026 EMPAC Concert Hall
Orchestra
Mahler – Blumine
Mahler – Symphony no. 1
All State - Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2023
Nick was selected to perform in the symphonic band in September 2023 3 days before the start of the school year. Originally, Nick was selected to play French horn in the symphonic band, as well as an alternate in the mixed chorus, and went with the band since that was guaranteed. Nick prepared his music for all state at the same time as his area all state music, so not everything was perfect, but good enough to get him where he needed to be. During the very long all state rehearsals, he improved himself and his interpretation of the pieces he plays, and learned how to interpret each part of the pieces he plays, adding more character in the process. The symphonic band was under the direction of Mr. Jeffery Grogan from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, and after seeing how the entire ensemble clicked with each other on the first day, Mr. Grogan knew that he was working with a great ensemble. Mr. Grogan would offer a full ride to everyone who applied to his university, which amazed and shocked everyone in the room. The concert went successfully and perfect in the Eastman Theatre at the Eastman School of Music. Nick still keeps in touch with Mr. Grogan, as well as the rest of the band after they parted ways from Rochester, NY.
Pieces Performed:
- Lightning Round - Kevin Day
- Lincolnshire Posy - Percy Granger
- Overture to Candide - Leonard Bernstein
Area All State - Nov 17-18, 2023
Nick was first selected to perform in the symphonic band for his zones area all state festival in 2022 as first horn and performed 4 complex pieces for his level. The following year, Nick was selected to play in the symphonic orchestra under the direction of Dr. Emily Schaad from SUNY Fredonia. Due to the conflicting time periods and upcoming due dates and concerts, Nick focused more on his music for area all state than all state, since that conference was two weeks after. Nick was thrilled to work with such a talented ensemble alongside one of his friends from school. The concert was performed at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY with many students, parents, and members of the community in attendance. Several students from the orchestra were also selected to attend the all state conference with Nick in the symphonic band, and keeps in touch with them as well as with Dr. Schaad today.
Pieces Performed:
- The Montagues and The Capulets - Prokofieff
- Intermezzo Sinfonico - Mascagni
- The Bamboula - Coleridge-Taylor
