Biography
Nicholas Deek grew up in a very musical family. His mother, herself an excellent pianist, gave Nicholas his first piano lessons. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Ottawa, where he studied piano with Dr. Stéphane Lemelin, Andrew Tunis, and Frédéric Lacroix. His other piano teachers include Judy Ginsburg, Sandra Webster, and David Jalbert.
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With over 75 performances a year, Nicholas has a very active performance schedule. He has been the featured soloist at various events including weddings, funerals, cocktail hours, fundraisers, Christmas parties, church services, as well as solo recitals. In 2017, Nicholas accompanied the Ewashko Singers chorus at the National Arts Centre for the Broadway POPS shows with maestro Jack Everly. Highlights of Nicholas’s performing career include performing for organizations that help make a difference to those in need. In 2016, along with his quintet, Nicholas performed for a fundraising event for Capital Welcomes, an organization launched in 2015 to aid Syrian refugees integrate in Ottawa. In 2013, Nicholas organized and performed in a solo benefit concert for Just Equipping, an organization that provides relief to refugees in Rwanda. As a performer, Nicholas connects with audiences in delivering elegant and passionate performances in a wide range of styles and genres including virtuosic solo recitals. Nicholas has been part of many ensembles and frequently collaborates with other musicians and vocalists.
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Passion for Performing
At the age of 19, Nicholas performed his first public recital in front of a sellout audience of 200 people. Since then, he has performed over 200 solo concerts. Whether it's performing in front over thousands at single events or an intimate setting, Nicholas is experienced performing for many different occasions, and in a wide range of styles.
In 2019, Nicholas was a quarterfinalist in the 5th Canadian Chopin Piano Competition. He has performed in other piano competitions, including the Canada Music Competition, and has won first prizes in the Kiwanis Music Festival. Nicholas is an experienced performer in classical, jazz & contemporary ensembles, as well as in accompanying singers and instrumentalists. Nicholas has returned as a guest artist in the Orford Academy of Arts Music Festival in Orford, Québec, where he performed Beethoven and Chopin. Nicholas has also been a guest artist at the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival in St. John’s, Newfoundland and the Adamant Music Festival in Vermont, USA. He has performed for internationally-recognized pianists in solo masterclasses, including André Laplante, David Jalbert, Jean-François Latour, Evelyne Brancart, Ursula Oppens, Jamie Parker, & Jean-Paul Sévilla. He has also received Chamber Music masterclasses with members of the Gryphon Trio & Afiara String Quartet and Art Song masterclasses with Michael McMahon and David Lutz.
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Nicholas received a scholarship to study music at the Master's Level at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied with pianists James Kirby, Matthew Stanley and Mary Dullea, as well as composition with Aaaron Holloway-Nahum, electronic music with Chris Whiter, and music theory. He returned to England that summer to perform for a wedding! Nicholas enjoys teaching piano and theory in Ottawa, as well as keeping active with his friends and family.