ABOUT NICHOLAS
Trumpeter Nicholas began studying piano at 4 years, adding flute and trumpet at 10. He studied trumpet with Marcellus Brown and Brad Peters while attending Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, furthering study through lessons with masters Bobby Shew and Jon Faddis, and masterclass performances for American Brass Quintet and Centre City Brass Quintet. Nicholas began performing and teaching professionally in 1995.
From 2000-2008 he travelled the world and performed as Lead Trumpeter and Musical Director aboard many cruise ships, mostly with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
In 2008 Nicholas settled in Ottawa, Canada, where he established himself as a first-call lead trumpeter and educator. He founded the Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2009 and was its musical director for 10 years. Nicholas taught at Carleton University from 2009-2021, as well as being on faculty at Carleton Jazz Camp for 10 years. He worked with Alcorn Music Studios to produce Trumpet Bootcamp for 6 years, with masterclasses and concerts with guest trumpeters Ingrid Jensen, Russell Devuyst, Bria Skonberg, John Ellis, Jason Logue, Lex French and Dave Dunlop.
Today, Nicholas is an in-demand private instructor in trumpet, harmony and improvisation, and is an active guest clinician, adjudicator and guest soloist.
After relocating to the beautiful Interior region of British Columbia in 2021,
Nicholas currently leads ENDEE4+, co-leads The Convertibles, and has begun forming Okanagan Youth Jazz Orchestra for high school jazz musicians from Kamloops to Penticton with his company Bastion Education Productions.
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WHAT IS YOUR LESSON CANCELATION POLICYPlease provide 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel a lesson. Lessons cancelled at the last minute, or no shows, will be charged.
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WHAT ARE YOUR PAYMENT METHODS?Prices are in Canadian dollars and payments can be made by cash, check or e-transfer. If you wish to use a different method please let me know and we can discuss the options.
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RECORDINGSNicholas frequently writes and records for a variety of artists, and has contributed to many albums, including: Solomon Douglas Swingtet Tilda That’s The Spirit SoulJazz Orchestra’s ‘Rising Sun’ (2011 JUNO nomination) SoulJazz Orchestra’s ‘Solidarity’ (2013 JUNO nomination) Bank Street Bonbons The Cooper Brothers Slim Moore & the Mar-Kays Mike Essoudry’s Mash Potato Mashers The Yohawks Orienteers Phil Motion & the Easy Lo-Fi Pete Foret KJ Thomas Kayla Howran Janie Renée Good Advice Krystal Jyl & The Jacks Live concert recording for Radio Canada with Los Gringos Prime Rib Big Band 2020 release: “Choice Cuts” His Ottawa-based Jazz band, The Beeched Wailers, recorded their album, “The Johnson Lake Sessions” in 2015.
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CURRENT PROJECTSNicholas performs regularly with The Prime Rib Big Band, Los Gringos, Bank Street Bonbons, and Mackenzie Rhythm Section, and he occasionally performs with the National Arts Centre Orchestra Pops. Nicholas’s jazz quintet, The Beeched Wailers, hosts a weekly Tuesday Night Jazz Jam in Ottawa.
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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTSNicholas Dyson has worked with numerous musical legends including: Dave Brubeck, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Jamie Cullum, Kim Massie, Paul Anka, The Temptations, The Coasters, The Platters, Solomon Douglas Swingtet, Patrick Watson, Dan Mangan, and Broken Social Scene. Nicholas also played with the National Arts Centre Orchestra Pops, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, Capital Brassworks, and in the pit orchestras of many musical theatres shows like Book of Mormon and Motown The Musical.
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