Biography

Violinist Nicolette Andres has created a musical career with breadth in teaching, performing—internationally, and continuing her own education through the Suzuki Association. In the fall of 2017 Nicolette left her beloved Pacific Northwest and returned to her home state of Colorado. While in the Northwest Nicolette earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA under the direction of Dr. Maria Sampen. While at the University Nicolette received coaching in chamber music and solo performance from professors David Requiro, Duane Hulbert, Timothy Christie, Angela Draghicescu, Rob Hutchinson, Gerard Morris, and Alistair MacRae. 

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During Nicolette’s undergraduate career she spent six months abroad in Cork, Ireland where she studied with violinist and conductor Tom Crowley. While in Ireland Nicolette played in the Cork Institute of Technology School of Music Symphony and also absorbed the incredible folk music of Ireland. In addition to her violin studies in Ireland, Nicolette picked up the bodhrán (Irish frame drum) and studied with Colm Murphy of the internationally known group De Dannan. Following her time abroad, Nicolette continued as a member of the University of Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra, and was featured on violin as part of a jazz combo. Nicolette also performed in multiple chamber ensembles at the University of Puget Sound and was asked to rejoin the Symphony in Spring 2017 for a performance of Mahler’s First Symphony.

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Nicolette continues to explore new venues and groups with which to play music, and she has a particular passion for playing swing, jazz, folk, rock and traditional Irish. Nicolette began to find a new voice on her violin when she was asked to perform for her local yoga studio’s evening classes in 2016. She began improvising more, composed original music, and was drawn to the different environments that a musician can create during live performance. In Spring 2017 Nicolette joined touring Steampunk band Abney Park based in Seattle, WA. Nicolette has recently performed with Abney Park in West Palm Beach, FL; Seattle, Portland, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia; Niagara, Ontario; and Tucson, AZ. Nicolette is the resident second violinist in the Nexus Ensemble based in Denver, CO. She has also performed with various ensembles in bluegrass and gypsy jazz at venues across Denver, including two performances at Dazzle Jazz. Upcoming shows can be found here.

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Since teaching her first violin lessons in her native Colorado in 2011, Nicolette knew she needed to unlock the keys to teaching music to many students – to build confidence, awareness and respect in our communities. After her first Suzuki teacher training in Seattle in 2015 she felt she had found a community that would fuel her creativity surrounding teaching. Nicolette believes that the Suzuki method develops wonderful musicians, yet the most important part of the journey is that these skills spill over into all parts of our lives. This creates healthy individuals, and therefor communities. Nicolette learned the violin by the Suzuki method beginning at age five and now teaches at the internationally recognized Suzuki School Boulder Suzuki Strings, and operates her own studio in her hometown of Evergreen, CO. In addition to her musical studies, Nicolette holds a 200-hour yoga certification and blends her knowledge of anatomy and movement with teaching the violin in order to let people play comfortably for as long as they would like.