Nicola Zielke

Nicola Nine, mezzo-soprano and collaborative piano, is a member of the Oregon State University voice faculty. She completed her B.Mus. in piano performance at Friends University (Wichita, Kansas) and also holds a M.Mus. in piano performance from Wichita State University, where she studied with Andrew Trechak. A native of Boise, Idaho, Nine began her musical studies at Boise State University as a violinist with an orchestra scholarship, and also studied piano under Madeline Hsu. Post-masters work at The Florida State University included diction studies with Dr. Timothy Hookman, vocal studies with Larry Gerber and performing on vocal recitals with Vallerie Trujillo. She has also done freelance work at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and while living in Tucson, accompanied the Community Chorus in performances of Haydn’s “Creation” and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.”

Since arriving in Oregon in 1999, Nine has kept an active performance schedule. Notable performances include solo roles in Nicolai’s Mass and the OSU Opera Workshop “Desert and Despair,” and as a collaborative pianist for the OSU Chamber Choir and the Corvallis Repertory Singers. She is the Director of Staff Services for the Oregon Ambassadors of Music which tours Europe biannually.

Recently scholarly activities include an invited performance at the 2015 conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in Portland, Oregon and a co-presentation at the 2017 Oregon Music Educators Association in Eugene, Oregon titled “Two Heads Are Better Than One – Collaboration in Rehearsal.” Collaborative pianist for the 2019 Southwest Regional High School SATB Choir. In 2024 Nine performed in Honolulu,Hawaii with soloist Nicholas Larson. She has also performed in Europe with OSU Chamber Choir in 2000 and 2023.