bio
Nicholas Meyer, baritone, is a Portland-based, multi-faceted classical vocalist and pianist who maintains an active performing and teaching career in Portland, OR. He is the owner of Lydian Music Studios in SE Portland; a welcoming and creative space for music lessons, rehearsals, classes, and performances. Nicholas has also taught voice at Willamette University, and currently serves on the board of Renegade Opera, where he made his music director debut in their production of Mozart’s Tito. In addition to professional singing, Nicholas also has credits as a producer, music director, stage director, and accompanist. As a voice/piano instructor and mentor, Nicholas has taught thousands of lessons, working with professional singers/musicians, classical/opera singers, rock singers, hip-hop artists, pianists, public speakers, treble voices and teenagers, hobbyists, karaoke enthusiasts and everyone in between.
Nicholas is the former Co-Artistic Director of Opera Theater Oregon where he produced and performed in critically acclaimed opera productions. In September of 2017, he made his debut performance with the company, creating the role of John Muir in its world premiere production of the environmental opera Two Yosemites. Nicholas was praised by Oregon ArtsWatch for his "whiskey-smooth baritone" and that he "interpreted [Muir] to perfection." NW Reverb wrote he "superbly captured Muir’s dignity and vision for the great outdoors...Meyer’s beautiful mellow baritone was at its best in the upper range." Nicholas made his directorial debut with OTO in 2018 in their production of The Little Prince.
Nicholas has also sung at the Aquilon Music Festival, Astoria Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Manhattan School of Music, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Friends of Chamber Music, and The Franz-Schubert-Institut in Austria. Other previous credits include Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), The Stranger (Martin's Lie), Indiana Elliot's Brother (The Mother of Us All) and covering the principal role of Beaumarchais in Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles.
An avid recitalist, Nicholas has performed numerous recitals and his ever-growing repertoire encompasses over 400 art songs. He has produced and performed three unique art song recitals through successful Kickstarter campaigns, often collaborating with composer Justin Ralls and pianist Robert Ainsley (formerly of Portland Opera). Nicholas has also participated in nearly two dozen master classes, working with artists such as Elly Ameling, Julius Drake, Dame Ann Murray, Warren Jones and Thomas Hampson. He also premiered a song cycle by Italian composer Paolo Marchettini for baritone, cello solo and orchestra in 2012 and again in 2016 in New York City.
Nicholas holds a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He currently studies with voice teacher David Jones in New York City and piano teacher Susan McDaniel in Portland.