About Nico
South African-born Dr Nico de Villiers is a pianist, coach, and researcher and is the Deputy Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. He holds degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the University of Michigan, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Prior to his appointment at RNCM, Nico worked as vocal coach at various institutions including the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA), the Royal College of Music (London, UK), and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, UK).
Research
Current and Future Research
Nico is currently investigating the life and music of Dutch-American Richard Hageman (1881-1966), with a specific focus on his art song as well as the interchanging influence between his work in Hollywood’s Golden Age and his concert music.
External Research Roles
- Assistant stage director, Royal Academy of Music (2019)
- Visiting vocal coach, Royal College of Music (2018 – 2019)
- Vocal coach and academic lecturer, Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2017 – 2022)
- Piano professor, University of Bristol (2017 – 2019)
- Vocal coach and academic lecturer, Leeds Conservatoire (2011 – 2017)
- Graduate teaching assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2005 – 2007)
Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
SVSO Performance Classes
1-to-1 Vocal Coaching
1-to-1 Diction Coaching (German, French, Italian, English)
Vocal Ensemble, Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano Coaching
Repertoire Studies: Undergraduate elective on art song (BMus 3)
Postgraduate Teaching
SVSO Performance Classes
English Repertoire Performance Classes
1-to-1 Vocal Coaching
1-to-1 Diction Coaching (German, French, Italian, English)
Vocal Ensemble, Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano Coaching
Research Supervision
Current supervision of PhDs:
- Yangyi Mao
- Matthew Lau
- Maggie Zhao
- Lingrui Guo
Research Outputs
Written Outputs
On Migration, Exile and Cosmopolitanism: A Brief Survey of South African Art Song
de Villiers, N., 2023, In: Journal of Singing. 80, 2, p. 145-156Sounding Out a Poet in Disguise: Richard Hageman’s Robert Nathan Settings
de Villiers, N., Mar 2023, In: VoicePrints. 20, 4, p. 66-77 10 p.Singing the Songs of Rabindranath Tagore: Richard Hageman’s Settings from The Gardener
de Villiers, N., Mar 2022, In: VoicePrints. 19, 4, p. 48-58 10 p.Richard Hageman: from Holland to Hollywood
de Villiers, N., Kalinak, K. & Walthaus, A., 2020, Peter Lang Publishing Group.Italian Intrigue: Nico de Villiers explores the Oscar-winning composer Richard Hageman’s only opera
de Villiers, N., Jan 2019, In: Opera. 70, 1, p. 17-21 5 p.‘Do Not Go, My Love’: A Song’s Centenary
de Villiers, N., Oct 2017, In: The Classical Singer. 30, 8, p. 46-50Making the Tailcoats Fit: The Life and Music of Richard Hageman
de Villiers, N. & Walthaus, A., 2015, Leeuwarden, Netherlands: Wijdemeer Uitgeverij.Practice Research/Compositions
Echoed Voices
de Villiers, N. (Performer), 19 Jul 2024Voices: The Songs of Richard Hageman
de Villiers, N. (Performer) & de Villiers, N., 2022André Tchaikowsky, The Piano Works Volume 1: Sonata (1958)
de Villiers, N. (Performer), 2013Professional Activity
Public Presentations and Performance
Afrikaans Art Song Literature: Musical Archive of Identity, Cultural Heritage & Reconciliation
de Villiers, N. (Performer), Forbay, B. (Speaker / presenter) & Bester, C. (Speaker / presenter)
Afrikaans Art Song Literature: Musical Archive of Identity, Cultural Heritage & Reconciliation
de Villiers, N. (Performer), Forbay, B. (Speaker / presenter) & Bester, C. (Speaker / presenter)
“What is my role in this partnership?” — Introducing collaborative pianism at undergraduate level
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)
Archival Research as Sub-Discipline in Film Music Studies
de Villiers, N. (Invited speaker)
José and Rafton Smallwood Masterclass Series III
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)
BOOK LAUNCH — Richard Hageman: The Becoming of a Song Composers
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)
José and Rafton Smallwood Masterclass Series II
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)
José and Rafton Smallwood Masterclass Series I
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)
Echoed Voices
de Villiers, N. (Performer)
Masterclass for Singers and Collaborative Pianists
de Villiers, N. (Speaker / presenter)