Bio

Nick is a drummer, percussionist, and educator in the greater Detroit area. He is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BA in Performance and Education and a Master Degree in Library and Information Science and a Master Degree in Jazz Studies. Nick also holds a Graduate Certification in Orchestral Studies and a Certificate in Music Technology from Berklee College of Music. As an undergrad, Nick studied under Salvatore Rabbio, former timpanist for the Detroit Symphony. His first drum set instructor was Mark Logsdon, who specializes in rudimental drumming and is the director of the First Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corp. For jazz studies, Nick studied drum set with Danny Spencer, piano with Matt Michaels, Bill Gaff, Cliff Monear and Vibraphone with Rob Pipho. He has also studied with Sam Tunda, former percussionist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Keith Claeys, percussion instructor at Wayne State University.

As an educator, Nick is a retired band director from the Avondale School District and is currently on the adjunct faculty for Macomb Community College. He holds the position of director of the Jazz Lab Band and percussion instructor.

Professionally, Nick is a free lance percussionist who has performed in all styles of music from jazz, rhythm and blues to classical music. He is the timpanist for the Macomb Symphony Orchestra, Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra and drummer for the Rhythm Society Orchestra, a 16 piece Big Band that specializes in swing music from the 30’s and 40’s.

Nick was a featured soloist for the M.S.O. performing Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra by Darius Milhaud and The Golden Age of the Xylophone arranged by Floyd Werle and Randall Eyles. His most recent accomplishment is authoring Percussion Guide for the Beginning Band Student.