About Speaker

Percussionist and conductor George Nickson is a trailblazer in contemporary music performance who is creating new works and new pathways for collaboration. Bringing together a breadth of experience from solo to chamber and orchestral music, George holds the Margie and William H. Seay Chair as Principal Percussionist of The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and also serves as Chair of the Percussion Department at Southern Methodist University, where he leads contemporary chamber music studies, including the musical collective SYZYGY.

George is also Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of ensemble NEWSRQ (enSRQ), a versatile chamber music ensemble in Sarasota, Florida, dedicated to playing and advocating for the music of contemporary composers. The ensemble was created to build a community around contemporary music, blending established composers with emerging voices (including 16 commissions and 14 world premieres).

George frequently performs with the Boston Symphony and National Symphony, with other highlights that include concerto performances at Tanglewood and solo performances at the Spoleto Festival.

A dedicated educator in his own right, George has recently been engaged by the Texas Music Festival, Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar, and for master classes and clinics at schools ranging from the University of Michigan to the New England Conservatory.