Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicolas Bizub. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicolas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up with a piano at home and was entranced by creating my own music on it. I remember at a very early age, something like age 4, I realized I could write down notes and play them back. I couldn’t read music but I knew the note names, so I’d write down sequences of note names and play them. The feeling of creating something was so exciting to me. That was my first experience with writing music, which lit the fire for me to stay interested in learning.

When I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally, I was in quite a hard place in high school with my identity as a closeted gay man. I turned to music for comfort and got my hands on as much music as I could. I performed in orchestra, band, and choir, and realized at that point I was actually fairly good at making music. I also found my first close friends during that time in my life.

I decided I wanted to go to school for music purely because it connected me to people where I felt welcome, even if I wasn’t out at that point. I eventually came out during undergrad and went to conservatory for 10 years to get my doctorate in composition. I’m indebted to that time in my life because it pushed me to be my authentic self. I am forever grateful for the experiences studying music that connected me to a deeper understanding and acceptance of humanity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a music composer primarily, and creating music to connect people is the driving force behind what I do. I got into music because of its mystic power to speak directly to lived human experiences, and I love sharing my own experiences through composing. I hope my music can give some comfort to those struggling with anything troubling in their lives. Music gave me comfort, and I hope to give that same energy back through the works I write.

I’m also a teacher and love mentoring those who are wishing to learn more about how and why music affects us so deeply. It gives me great joy to help students understand their voice both personally and musically. It’s heartening to see my students capture energy from their lived experiences through the music they write, which shares their authentic selves in beautiful and moving ways.

I am very proud of works that I have written, but what I am most proud of is the successes my students have seen through embracing and overcoming the difficulties of their own personal challenges through music. Musical growth for a student is important, yes, but personal growth students experience derived from studying music is quite profound to witness, and truly fulfilling. It’s why I do what I do.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When a piece of music reaches someone in ways that helps them to make sense of the unspoken parts of their struggles. Music did and continues to do that for me, and that’s why I decided to endeavor in learning how and why music can unlock personal clarity. There are certainly theories of how and why music does this, but the most rewarding part of listening to, studying, writing, reading about, and teaching music is that I am constantly, without fail, surprised.

I think one reason might be because writing music is so inherently personal, and getting to know someone through how they hear their personal story through music is such a spiritual experience. I am not a religious person, but I think music is deeply personal and spiritual. Getting to know someone this way is incredibly vulnerable and admirable, and for me is the most rewarding aspect of the craft.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I began studying music, I thought beyond a shadow of a doubt that my end goal was to be a professor at a university. I taught music theory and composition as a graduate assistant and enjoyed it immensely, but the challenges of finding a university job after graduating are overwhelming.

I’ve been lucky in that during my undergrad, I learned the many aspects of the music business and made sure to keep a foot in multiple avenues of the career. I would love to be a full-time composer and university teacher, but that’s not in the cards for me. My musical life has taken me on a different journey, and I’m fortunate and grateful to have had the option to continue making musical connections in other avenues. You could, I guess, call that a pivot, though I don’t view it that way.

I’ve been involved in music administration since undergrad and have had the great pleasure to serve as a recruiter for conservatories, a liaison for professional orchestras, an artistic director of an ensemble, and the president of a new music society. From that experience, I’ve been able to forge a career for professional orchestras in marketing, and that is what I do for my full-time work.

I am concluding a six-year tenure at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, where I’ve had great opportunities to contribute to an ensemble that seeks relevancy and connection through music. That has been immensely impactful on me personally, professionally, and musically. Though I may have once viewed my work in marketing as somewhat disconnected from my musical training, I have found this work is deeply fulfilling and inextricably connected to my training. This work wholeheartedly encompasses all aspects of what I love about music, and that is purely humanistic connection – the very reason I pursued music in the first place!

I am headed to New York City in the next few months to continue my career in marketing, and I could not be more excited. I am deeply indebted to Cincinnati for cultivating my career as a composer, teacher, marketer, and music lover. I cannot wait to share what I’ve learned and experienced in a new city!

Contact Info:

• Website: nicolasbizub.com

Image Credits
Header photo is Graham Hebel