Nicholas Wilks

= Early life =

Nicholas (Nick) Wilks was first introduced to music at the Pilgrims School, Winchester, where he was a Quirister for Winchester College Chapel Choir. He then continued as a music scholar at Cranleigh, before reading English at Christchurch, Oxford, where he conducted the Oxford Philharmonia. He subsequently spent three years studying conducting and clarinet under Colin Metters and John Carewe at the Royal Academy of Music, London, where he was supported by generous funding from the Drapers' Company.

Career

Nicholas Wilks is currently Director of Music at Winchester College. He also conducts the Winchester Symphony Orchestra and has regularly conducted the Winchester College Glee Club, a choral group who's recent performances include Elgar's "The Apostles" and Handel's "Messiah". Before his move to Winchester College, he was conductor of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra (1996-2004) and the Channel Islands Youth Orchestra.
His first appearance at the BBC Proms in July 2000 conducting Alec Roth's Earth and Sky, with pianist Joanna MacGregor, the percussion quartet Ensemble Bash and the Finchley Children's Music Group, of which he was formerly music director and with which he has made a number of critically acclaimed recordings.
He is a trustee for the Soweto string teaching project Buskaid, and in 1998 he led the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra's tour of South Africa, the first visit by a British youth orchestra since the fall of apartheid.

Recording career

He has broadcasted on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4, Classic FM and the BBC World Service. His opera credits include "Eugene Onegin", "Noye's Fludde", "Der Freischütz ", "La Belle Hélène" and "The Bartered Bride" among others.
Compact Disc releases include: Charles Davidson: Singing of Angels / And David Danced Before the Lord http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.559436