Riyad Nicolas, Piano

Biography

Riyad Nicolas “Syria’s leading young pianist” (International Piano Magazine 2012) was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1989, and has already established himself as a leading figure of his generation on the international performing circuit.  Among his recent achievements, he lists First Prize at the Francaix International Piano Competition in Paris, and his débuts at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London.

In June 2015, Mr. Nicolas graduated with distinction in a Master of Performance course at the Royal College of Music, as a Steinway Scholar supported by a Frederick Johnston Award. He first went to London in 2005 when he was awarded a two-year scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music with Sulamita Aronovsky, continuing to work with her at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he graduated in 2011. He has participated in masterclasses by such musicians as Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and John Lill.

Mr. Nicolas has won numerous international prizes and awards in Europe and the Middle East, and was selected to be a Tillett Trust Young Artist in 2012 and an artist at the Countess of Munster Trust Concert Scheme in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. 

He made his first appearance as a soloist with orchestra at the age of ten in Aleppo. Since then, he has performed with many orchestras including the London Chamber Orchestra at Cadogan Hall, Emirate Symphony Orchestra in Dubai, Young Musician Symphony Orchestra at St. John's Smith Square, the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra at the opening of the new Damascus Opera House, as well as with the Gomidas Chamber Orchestra of Aleppo.

He has given solo recitals in many prestigious venues in London, including Royal Albert Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. James’s Piccadilly, and Leighton House. He is regularly invited to give recitals hosted by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe and the Chopin Society UK. He has also been invited to perform in numerous UK musical festivals such as Harrogate, Norfolk-Norwich, King’s Lynn, Brighton, Devon, Darlington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lincoln, Crediton, and Eastbourne. Concert performances have also taken him to France, Spain, Switzerland, the US (including a debut at Kennedy Centre in Washington) and some Arab States.

Besides solo performances, Mr. Nicolas is also a keen chamber music player, and has performed regularly in duos with violin and flute, collaborating with artists including the eminent flautist Wissam Boustany. He has been invited to play for many fundraising concerts especially for Syria from various prestigious organizations such as The International Rescue Committee, The UN Refugee Agency, and The Arab-British Centre among others.