|
remarkable...breathtaking...superb... a fully enlightened musician of our time |
|
-CLASSICAL GUITAR |
|
An artist with eclectic tastes and a contemplative bent ...extraordinary ... powerful |
|
-THE WASHINGTON POST |
Michael performing with violinist Gil Shaham and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra on the symphony's 2014-2015 season opening concert
Click here to view a solo concert recorded for the RC Strings Artists Guitar Concert Series, July 2022
Michael in May, 2015 Guitar Player magazine
I recorded a quartet (well one fourth of it ...) written by composer Randy Hathaway that is included on his double CD of classical guitar works, you can read more about Randy's project in this recent review from Classical Guitar magazine
Video with Alexandra Picard live in KING FM studio Performance and interview with Alexandra Picard on KING FM (audio) |
| Bach lesson in June, 2015 Guitar Player magazine |
| New Facebook musician page |
Michael in July 2013 issue of Guitar Player magazine
Michael's new piece for soprano, guitar and orchestra premiered on April 28 with the NWSO and soprano Alexandra Picard
Upcoming tour of Japan in December, 2012
Michael featured on KING FM CD
Michael featured on "A Remark You Made'" with Jim O'Halloran
Article in the Seattle Weekly (December 7, 2011)
New album "Ten Years Passed" released
Official endorser of Royal Classics strings distributed in the US by Kremona Trade
Video interview/performance at Guitar Player magazine
WNYC's "New Sounds "episode features Shard
Michael in February 2009 issue of Guitar Player magazine
(August 2009) Michael joins the faculty of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle
(October 2008) NPR Interview on Rite of Spring arrangement for the Seattle Guitar Trio
(April 2008) Article/Interview in Classical Guitar magazine
(October 2007) New Shard review in Soundboard magazine
(August, 2007) YouTube concert videos
(July, 2007) Awards
from 4Culture and Seattle Arts Commission
(May, 2007) Ten Years Passed for electric guitar and orchestra premiered by NWSO
(February, 2007) February 1,2007 concert in Columbia, SC reviewed in "The State"
(October 2006) Nicolella's "Toccata and Fugue" included on guitarist Michael Partington's new CD Equinox
(August 2006) Free concert podcast, Shard and Transit all now available on iTunes
(July 2006) Shard chosen as album of the month in June/July issue of Guitare Classique magazine (France)
(May 2006) Article/Interview in Classical Guitar magazine
(May 2006) Featured on another episode of radio program Classical Guitar Alive!
(March 2006) Feature interview in Spring 2006 issue of Frets magazine
(March 2006) Interview on syndicated radio program Classical Guitar Alive!
(February 2006) Shard CD reviewed in Classical Guitar
(June 2005) Interview and CD in Guitar Review (Spring 2005 Issue #130)
(May 2005) New CD Shard now available
(January 2005) Surfacing Through the Mire in Guitar Review (Issue #129)
(July 2004) Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra Commissioned
(November, 2003) Columbia, SC concert reviewed in the Columbia Free Times and preview article in The State
(October, 2003) Nicolella's Guitar Concerto to be performed by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra
(April, 2003) Push CD reviewed by John Duarte in Gramophone
(March, 2003) Michael Nicolella's CDs released for distribution in the UK by Metronome
(March, 2003) Reviews for CD "Transit"
(June, 2002) Nicolella's "Guitar Concerto" premiered by Seattle Creative Orchestra
(June, 2002) Concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, reviewed in Seattle P-I
(April, 2002) Transit performance reviewed in the New York Times
Michael will be performing a tour of solo concerts in US Embassy American Centers in Japan the first week in December, 2012
In case you needed another reason to donate to Seattle's wonderful listener supported classical music radio station - Michael Nicolella is included on a CD celebrating Classical KING FM's first anniversary as a community public radio station. Given as a gift to those who support the station, the recording features classical artists with ties to the Northwest, including: the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, cellist Joshua Roman, Seattle Choral Company and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra. Michael's selection is a previously unreleased recording of Sevilla by Isaac Albeniz.
Michael is recently premiered a new piece for soprano, guitar (electric and classical) and orchestra on April 28, 2012 with soprano Alexandra Picard and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Spain. 8:00pm, at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, WA. The piece, entitled "The Flame of the Blue Star of Twilight," is a set of three songs based on text by W.B. Yeats. Videos of the performance will be posted on Michael's YouTube channel in October, 2012
Stravinsky's Rite of Spring on three guitars!
Click here to hear an interview from October 28, 2008 on NPR station KUOW concerning my arrangement of Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" Part 1 Adoration of the Earth for the Seattle Guitar Trio (Kevin Callahan, Michael LeFevre and Michael Nicolella). The interview features some excerpts of us playing the arrangement in rehearsal (yes, as a matter of fact we do rehearse in a large empty chapel). Unfortunately, what didn't make it into the interview were proper kudos for the incredible work that Monsieurs Callahan and LeFevre have put in on this project. If the arrangement is at all successful, it is due in no small part to the incredible creativity, stunning technique and amazing musicianship that they bring to the piece. Check out Kevin Callahan's beautiful performance of the iconic opening line (the one that makes bassoon players the world over swell with pride) and Michael Lefevre's gorgeous handling of the piccolo solo towards the end of the interview's closing excerpt...
This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, City of Seattle and 4Culture
4Culture and Seattle Arts Commission awards
Michael Nicolella recently received two awards - an Arts Special Project Award from 4Culture and a City Arts Project Award from the Seattle Arts Commission. With these awards, Michael will compose a piece, as well as arrange a major work, for the newly formed Seattle Guitar Trio . Comprising of guitarists Michael LeFevre, Kevin Callahan and Michael Nicolella, the Seattle Guitar Trio will be premiering the works in Fall 2008.
Ten Years Passed Premiere
Michael Nicolella's piece for electric guitar and orchestra, Ten Years Passed was premiered on May 5, 2007 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, WA. Michael was soloist with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Spain. "Ten Years Passed" was made possible in part by a Special Projects Award from 4Culture. Michael and the NWSO are scheduled to record the piece in November 2007 for one of Michael's upcoming albums. In the mean time you can view a video of the premiere below:
Ten Years Passed Pt.1
Ten Years Passed Pt.2
Michael Partington - Equinox
Toccata and Fugue is performed wonderfully on guitarist Michael Partington's new CD, Equinox. The piece was commissioned by Michael Partington and the Rosewood Guitar and was given its premiere performance on November 1, 2003 by Partington at Nordstrom Recital Hall Benaroya Hall.
iTunes and more
A podcast of my February 2006 concert at the New York Guitar Festival is now available for free download from iTunes. To download, use this link or go to the Podcast section of iTunes, search for New York Guitar Festival, click on the New York Guitar Festival and then click on the Michael Nicolella concert. The concert program is:
Toccata and Fugue - Michael Nicolella
Cello Suite 1 - J.S. Bach
Primavera Portena - Astor Piazzolla
Electric Counterpoint - Steve Reich
Grab It! - Jacob ter Veldhuis
Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix (encore)
The CDs Shard and Transit are also now on iTunes and will soon be available on most other digital download sites (Rhapsody, Sony Connect, Verizon, Napster, etc.)
Interview and CD in Guitar Review
There is an interview with Michael in the Spring 2005 issue of Guitar Review (#130). The magazine also includes a CD, half of which is devoted to some of Michael's compositions for solo guitar. For more information including ordering individual issues visit Guitar Review's website. The interview is also included on my website, click here to read it.
Surfacing Through the Mire in Guitar Review
The score to Michael Nicolella's piece Surfacing Through the Mire for solo classical guitar is featured in #129 of Guitar Review magazine. For more information visit Guitar Review's website.
Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra Commissioned
Michael Nicolella was recently awarded an Arts Special Project Grant from 4Culture to compose a new work for electric guitar and orchestra. He will begin work on the new concerto in the Fall. Meanwhile, Michael recently recorded his Guitar Concerto for classical guitar and orchestra for inclusion on his new CD Shard. The work was recorded by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra , led by conductor Anthony Spain at Studio X in Seattle.
Michael Nicolella will perform the solo part to his newly revised "Guitar Concerto" for classical guitar and chamber orchestra with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Spain on October 25, 2003. The concert will be at 7:30PM at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, WA. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticket Master at 292-ARTS or can be bought at the door as well.
"Guitar Concerto" was premiered on June 29, 2002 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. Michael performed the solo part with the Seattle Creative Orchestra led by conductor Roger Nelson. Michael has since made some revisions to the piece. This new version will be heard for the first time in the upcoming performance with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. "Guitar Concerto" was underwritten by a Special Projects Award from the King County Office of Cultural Resources.
Nicolella's "Guitar Concerto" premiered by Seattle Creative Orchestra
Michael Nicolella's "Guitar Concerto" for classical guitar and chamber orchestra was premiered on June 29, 2002 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. Michael performed the solo part with the Seattle Creative Orchestra led by conductor Roger Nelson. Nicolella's Guitar Concerto will get its next performance in October 2003 with the Northwest Symphony under the baton of Anthony Spain,with Michael once again taking on the duties of soloist. "Guitar Concerto" was underwritten by a Special Projects Award from the King County Office of Cultural Resources.