Nico de Villiers

South African-born pianist Nico de Villiers graduated as Master of Music (distinction) in piano performance (accompaniment and chamber music) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA in 2007. He was a student of Martin Katz. During his master study he was a Scholarship holder and Graduate Student Staff Assistant at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

In his formative years in South Africa Nico studied with Johan Cromhout and was a prize winner at various national music competitions. He was the winner of the National Musicon Piano Competition and a finalist and prize-winner at the 9^th Hennie Joubert National Piano Competition. He performed with major South African ensembles including the Cape Philharmonic and Odeion Sinfonietta. As chamber musician Nico worked with the Music Incorporated String Quartet as well as the Odeion String Quartet

Nico graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) Degree in Piano Performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in 2005 as an International Undergraduate Scholar of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Amongst other accolades he received the RSAMD Accompanist of the Year award in 2005, an award from the Mary Rowan Paton Memorial Trust and the Sibelius Prize for Research in Musicology. During his stay in Scotland Nico worked with various soloists from the RSAMD throughout the UK. Nico was also accompanist to the RSNO Junior Chorus, Cumbernauld choir and director of the Crookfur Primary School Choir and Newton Mearns Parish Church. During his time in Scotland he composed various works for these choirs.

His work as accompanist has taken him to Norway for performances at the Norwegian Music Academy as well as at the Pro Cantione Antiqua International Choral Festival in Provence, France. In collaboration with previous colleagues from RSAMD, Nico founded the De Villiers Ensemble that performed in Sweden and plans further performances there and in the UK. Nico is an assistant faculty member at the International Music Academy in Pilsen, Czech Republic. He performed in recital with fellow South African William Berger (baritone) and Rhona McKail (soprano) in the UK. He also performed with soprano Michelle Foster in Canada, England and Scotland and with renowned mezzo-soprano Jane Irwin in Scotland and the USA.

Nico performed for the Scottish Executive, the 2005 Grieg Exhibition (Edinburgh), the Ann Arbor Hill Auditorium and the University of Michigan, Museum of Art in the USA. In February 2007 Nico made his Kennedy Center debut in Washington DC at the 2007 Conservatory project.

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama recently awarded Nico a full tuition scholarship for the Master of Music Accompanist Course where his studies will commence in October 2007. He was also awarded a merit scholarship from the Guildhall Trust. Future engagements include recitals at various festivals and performances at the GSMD. In addition he will be performing in recital with mezzo-soprano Jane Irwin (England) and baritone William Berger (England), the De Villiers Ensemble (Sweden and Scotland) and other engagements throughout England.

Nico is grateful for the financial support of the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (South Africa).