Nicholas J. Will is an Assistant Professor of Music at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio), where, in addition to teaching organ lessons and directing the university’s Schola Cantorum Franciscana, he teaches courses in music theory, music history, Gregorian chant, and conducting. In complement to his university duties, he serves as Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, Assistant Organist at Heinz Memorial Chapel and Organist/Instructor at St. Paul Seminary.
Nicholas is a graduate of Duquesne University (BMus) and the Peabody Conservatory of Music (MM), studying with Ann Labounsky and Donald Sutherland, respectively. He is the winner of both the André Marchal Award for Excellence in Organ Performance (Duquesne), and the Dorothy DeCourt Prize in Organ (Peabody) and is also a past First Prize winner in the Young Organists’ Audition sponsored by the Pittsburgh Concert Society and the Duquesne University Concerto Competition.
Nicholas has appeared as soloist with the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra, Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, and is active as a recitalist, accompanist, and conductor. Significant performances and venues include a recital during the 2012 National Association of Pastoral Musicians’ national convention, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Notre-Dame Cathedral, The American Cathedral (Paris), and the Westerkerk (Amsterdam). Nicholas has recently collaborated with soprano Charlene Canty, countertenor Andrey Nemzer, and composer Eli Tamar on a program entitled
St. Francis of Assisi: A Musical Tribute from Past to Present, a full-length recording of which will be released by Parma Records in 2016.
Nicholas is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists and serves as District Convener for Central and Western Pennsylvania and on the executive committee of its Pittsburgh Chapter. He is also an active member of NPM, serving on its national Steering Committee for Organists.