Percussionist and conductor George Nickson is a trailblazer in contemporary music performance who is creating new works and new pathways for collaboration. Bringing together a breadth of experience from solo to chamber and orchestral music, George holds the Margie and William H. Seay Chair as Principal Percussionist of The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and also serves as Chair of the Percussion Department at Southern Methodist University, where he leads contemporary chamber music studies including the musical collective SYZYGY. Recognized for both his “ease and flair” (The New York Times), George brings new ideas to life with unmistakable commitment and energy.
George is also Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of ensembleNEWSRQ (enSRQ), a versatile chamber music ensemble in Sarasota, FL, dedicated to playing and advocating for the music of contemporary composers. enSRQ was created to build a community around contemporary music, blending established composers with emerging voices (including 16 commissions and 14 world premieres). Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the ensemble continues to push boundaries with cross-disciplinary collaborations and plans to expand its impact through studio recording projects.
Upcoming projects include the premiere of major new percussion concerti commissioned by composers Nico Muhly and Judd Greenstein with George as featured soloist, along with performances of Joseph Schwantner’s second percussion concerto. The 2025/26 season also sees George leading Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the premiere (with enSRQ); various projects at Cortona Sessions in Ede, Netherlands; and Matthew Aucoin’s Music for New Bodies with members of American Modern Opera Company
Recent performances include those with the Dallas Symphony Chorus and SYZYGY in a program of Chris Cerrone and 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner Raven Chacon; Marcos Balter’s Violin Concerto; Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire; and Wolfgang Rihm’s rarely-performed Jagden und Formen. George frequently performs with the Boston Symphony and National Symphony, with other highlights including concerto performances at Tanglewood and solo performances at the Spoleto Festival. He is also featured in solo recordings for NAXOS, Bridge, and Albany Records. A new duo recording project with Mike Truesdell centered around the music of Andrew Thomas is currently in the works.
George has appeared as conductor in many notable performances of ensemblenewSRQ, with the Sarasota Orchestra, and musicians of the Dallas Symphony and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. These performances have featured numerous world premieres and U.S. premieres, including Sebastian Currier’s WAVES, Charles Wuorinen’s New York Notes, Pierre Boulez’s Sur incises, Le Marteau sans maître, and Sofia Gubaidulina’s Lyre of Orpheus.
George received the Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School where he studied with Daniel Druckman and completed his undergraduate studies at the New England Conservatory with Will Hudgins. A dedicated educator in his own right, George has recently been engaged by the Texas Music Festival, Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar, and for masterclasses and clinics at schools ranging from the University of Michigan to New England Conservatory.