Biography

Nicola Canzano (b. 1991)  is a composer, harpsichordist and organist specializing in historical composition and improvisation. His compositions in baroque style have been widely performed — from William Christie’s gardens in Thiré to the classrooms of the University of Oregon, where they are studied in Dr. Timothy Pack’s course on fugue, as well as recently recorded by Verità Ensemble, based in Milan. His arrangements of Ignatius Sancho’s suites have been performed widely, most notably by the Academy of Ancient music and the Handel and Haydn Society. 

    Nicola is employed by the Historical Performance department at The Juilliard School as a coach and studio accompanist. He also lectures occasionally on fugal improvisation at Juilliard, and he led the short-lived harpsichord department at Michigan State University from 2022-25. He was a panelist at the first International Conference on Historical Improvisation, and continues to give talks and lecture-recitals on improvisation throughout the US. He maintains a large private studio for historical improvisation and composition, having been sought out by students on almost every continent (but is still holding out hope for a bored scientist in Antarctica to come his way). 

While a student at Juilliard, Nicola founded the ensemble Nuova Pratica, a group which specializes in composing and performing their own music in admixtures of styles from the past on period instruments, and which was featured in Early Music America. Another group Nicola plays with, The Fooles, was also featured. 

    Nicola is increasingly sought after as a thoughtful and exacting continuo player, having played under Masaaki Suzuki, Richard Egarr, Jane Glover, Gary Wedow, Paul Watkins, Dmitri Sinkovsky, with the Detroit Opera, Detroit Symphony, Juilliard415, and Boise Baroque Orchestra, among many others, most recently joining The Musicians of the Old Post Road in Boston. For 14 years he worked for different Episcopal Churches around the country directing music and playing organ. He holds degrees from Juilliard, the University of Michigan, and the University of California, and was a student of Edward Parmentier, Joseph Gascho, Béatrice Martin, Peter Sykes, and Richard Egarr. His greatest love in the world is his little beagle mix, Riley. He also holds several degrees in Physics from the University of Michigan and the University of California.