Nick Austin is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied under Carola Grindea and Harold Dexter
An avid showtune lover, Nick has been Musical Director for the Crowthorne Musical Players since 1988: recent productions have included Pirates of Penzance (Broadway Version), Oklahoma, Singin' in the Rain, Annie Get Your Gun, South Pacific and The Boyfriend. Rehearsals are now underway for Rhapsody in Blues, a cabaret evening celebrating a variety of Jazz styles.
Past years have seen Nick conducting choirs of 400 children in performances of Yanomamo, Ocean World and African Jigsaw by Rose and Conlon at the Bracknell Schools Music Festival. He has also conducted the South Berkshire Music Centre's Corelli Orchestra, including a tour of Germany.
Nick joined Stanmore Choral Society as Musical Director in September 2006. Performances since then have included Schubert's Mass in G, Mozart's Requiem, Faure's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Dixit Dominus and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, performed with members of the award-winning a cappella group, Voces8 and the Senesino Players. The highlight of 2009 was conducting Stanmore Choral Society, Harrow Choral Society, Harrow Philharmonic Choir & the Trinity Orchestra at St Alban's Cathedral in a performance of Elgar's The Music Makers and Karl Jenkins The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace.
Nick has been rehearsal pianist for the Bracknell Choral Society since 1981 and conducted a complete Messiah for the society in November 2005. He regularly accompanies and plays continuo in their concerts and conducted their Carol Concert last year.
Nick orchestrates, arranges and composes for various musical and dance groups. Much of his output is tailor made music for dance schools.