Photo by Jennifer Nicole Photography & Films

Nicholas V. Hall (b. 1991) is an active composer, percussionist, educator, and arranger passionate about creating new sounds and timbres while seeking to expand beyond a single genre by taking influence from his diverse musical background. He works to fuse these elements into a single multi-genre style described as “beautifully ambient” with “smooth and rich dynamics of the timbre sonorities” alongside “strong rhythmic vitality and clear textures.” Nicholas continues to push himself beyond certain comfort levels to create a unique experience for the musicians and the audience that strives to connect with and reach new listeners.

As a composer, Nicholas draws inspiration from his percussive background by combining rhythmic diversity with an innate sense of internal time. This combination served as the foundation for his series of percussion duets, “Motions”—which continues to develop and receive performances worldwide—and he continues to expand these percussive qualities into new ensemble settings. His work has been featured and recognized by organizations and groups such as Charlotte New Music Festival, Sandbox Summer Seminar, Association for the Promotion of New Music, Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, Sō Percussion Summer Institute, Catchfire Collective, North Shore Symphony Orchestra, Symphony No. 1, ASCAP Plus+ Award, International Clarinet Association, Lake George Music Festival, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Verdant Vibes New Music Ensemble, New York University, Pulsing & Shaking Festival and more. Nicholas continuously makes an effort to work closely with some of today’s leading contemporary musicians, including JACK Quartet, Sō Percussion, Bent Frequency, Sandbox Percussion, Manhattan Symphonie, Iktus Percussion, Maestro Andrew Cyr, NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble, Robinson Panoramic Quartet, Washington Square Winds, NYU Symphony Orchestra, North Shore Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Vlad Vizireanu, and more. He is the past artistic director and composer in residence for Cisum Percussion and continually participates in festivals and seminars.

As a performer, Nicholas has been a featured soloist and an ensemble member in various musical settings. Like his work as a composer, he strives to bridge the gap among musical genres and emphasizes the visual component of his performances. Nicholas has toured the world—including several tours to China and Ireland—and performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall, Shanxi Poly Grand Theatre, National Sawdust, Wuhan Qintai Grand Theatre, Markin Halls, Guangzhou Opera House, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, and Kodak Theater at Eastman. As an ensemble member, he has performed with The Socially Distant Orchestra, Cisum Percussion, and LoopHouse. Along with an active performance schedule, Nicholas is working on an educational set of mallet and percussion etudes—#etudein60—which strives to make contemporary and extended techniques more accessible to students from beginner to advanced difficulty. As a soloist, he has performed with the LIU Post Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore Symphony Orchestra and on numerous recitals, masterclasses, and concerts. Nicholas proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets and DREAM Cymbals and Gongs. 

Along with being an active composer/performer, Nicholas is also an educator. He is currently an instructor and arranger for Roslyn High School and arranger for Brentwood High School. Previous instructor and arranger positions include the Long Island Sunrisers, Division Avenue High School, East Lyme High School, Putnum High School, and clinics with Cisum Percussion. Nicholas holds degrees from New York University (M.M. in Music Theory and Composition) and Long Island University (B.S. in Music), where he studied music composition under the direction of Julia Wolfe, Justin Dello Joio, and Carl Strommen and studied percussion performance under the direction of Jonathan Haas, Sean Statser, and Frank Cassara. Before his collegiate studies, Nicholas studied percussion performance under Frank Mediate, John Micelli, and Jules Radino. 

COMMISSIONS/RESIDENCIES

Careful What You Wish For - Large Ensemble for Roslyn High School - 2023
Dare to Dream - Large Ensemble for Division Avenue High School - 2021
roots - Multi-Percussion Solo w/ Looper Pedal for Kyle Lutes - 2019
pitter-patter, shimmer-shatter - Percussion Duo for Washington Squared and Consortium - 2019
In My Reflection - Large Ensemble for Division Avenue High School - 2019
Personalities - Suite for Solo Steel Pans for Russell Fisher and Consortium - 2018 / 2019 / 2020
unfold - Percussion Quartet for the Sō Percussion Summer Institute - 2018
abstract objects - Percussion Quartet for the Sō Percussion Summer Institute - 2018
it resonates? - Percussion Trio for Cisum Percussion - 2018
Frankenstein - Large Ensemble for Division Avenue High School - 2018
it must be now - Percussion Quartet for the Sandbox Summer Seminar - 2017
are we not drawn onward to new era? - Cello Sextet for the GMS Cello Ensemble - 2017
Motion No. 7 - Multi-Percussion Duet for Cisum Percussion - 2017
Hurry Up - Wait - Woodwind Quintet for Washington Square Winds - 2016
All Experiences Come and Go - Percussion Quartet for Cisum Percussion - 2016
Just Like That - Percussion Quartet for the NYU Percussion Ensemble - 2016
On Water and Land - Chamber Ensemble for the NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble - 2016
Listening Through an Open Door - Orchestrated for the NYU Symphony Orchestra - Composer Residency Spring 2016
DROP: Mvt. II - For the Robinson Panoramic Quartet, Irish Composition Summer School - 2016
Push Stop. To Go - Trio for Bent Frequency, Charlotte New Music Festival - 2016
Listening Through an Open Door - String Quartet for JACK Quartet- 2015
Ave Maria - (G. Cuccini) Symphony Orchestra + SATB arranged for the Manhattan Symphonie - 2015 
Motion No. 3 - Multi-Percussion Duet for Cisum Percussion - 2013
Night Sky - Solo Cello for Kayla Dempsey - 2013
Shadow Evolutions - Percussion Duo with Orchestra for Cisum Percussion and the North Shore Symphony Orchestra - 2013
Aldonza - Marimba Etude for Josh Zaid - 2013
Motion No. 2 - Multi-Percussion Duet for Cisum Percussion - 2012
Motion No. 1 - Multi-Percussion Duet for Cisum Percussion - 2012

EXPERIENCE

2022 - Present, Arranger/Sound Designer/Instructor - Roslyn High School
2021 - Present, Arranger/Consultant - Brentwood High School
2020 - 2022, Arranger/Consultant - Division Avenue High School
2020 - 2021, Video Specialist - Ensemble Block
2020 - 2020, Arranger - Roslyn High School Marching Band
2019 - 2019, Percussion - Long Island Musical Theater Festival
2018 - 2018, Composer - Sō Percussion Summer Institute - Collaboration with institute percussionists and Sō Percussion
2017 - 2021, Arranger/Consultant - East Lyme High School
2017 - 2020, Instructor/Arranger - Brentwood High School
2017 - 2018, Drums/Percussion/Composer - LoopHouse
2017 - 2017, Composer/Drums/Percussion - Sandbox Summer Seminar
2017 - 2017, Percussion - Division Avenue High School Musical
2017 - 2017, Music Teacher - New World Music Center
2016 - 2016, Drums/Percussion - Sandbox Summer Seminar
2016 - 2016, Irish Composition Summer School - Collaboration with Robinson Panoramic Quartet
2016 - 2016, Charlotte New Music Festival - Collaboration with Bent Frequency
2016 - 2016, Orchestra Residency - NYU Symphony Orchestra
2016 - 2016, Drums - North Shore High School Musical
2015 - 2020, Timpani/Percussion - Manhattan Symphonie
2015 - 2017, Arranger/Consultant - Putnam High School
2014 - 2016, Instructor/Arranger - Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps
2013 - 2016, Percussion Instructor - Mineola High School
2012 - 2020, Composer in Residence/Director/Percussionist - Cisum Percussion
2012 - 2012, Percussion Instructor - Seaford High School 
2010 - 2020, Arranger/Instructor - Division Avenue High School
2010 - 2011, Music Teacher - The Suffolk Music Center
2009 - 2010, Drums/Percussion - Broadhollow Theatre Company