Nicholas Omiccioli (b.1982) is a heavy metal guitarist living in a composer’s body. His music has been described by The Latest (UK) as “ominous and enthralling” and displaying a “depth and density of sound” by KCMetropolis. Omiccioli incorporates elements of rock and metal music into his compositions through the use of visceral energy, driving rhythms, animated textures, melodic hooks, and virtuosic instrumental writing. The motivation behind his work comes from a passion to create that originated from his roots playing in heavy metal bands and an early interest in illustration. His artistic background brings a singular craft to his work that is both introspective and evocative.
Omiccioli’s catalogue encompasses a variety of genres including orchestral, choral, vocal, solo, and a significant number of chamber music. His works has been performed all over the world including Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Lithuania, Thailand, New Zealand, China, Sweden, and throughout the United States. Omiccioli has composed for some of the leading ensembles of today such as Alarm Will Sound, the Jasper String Quartet, the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, l’Orchestre de la francophonie, and Third Angle Ensemble. Just recently, Omiccioli wrote a new work for the Berkeley Symphony through the American Composers Orchestra Earshot New Music Readings inspired by the driving force of heavy metal. Other prominent advocates of his music include the Society for New Music, DuoSolo, Ensemble Mise-en, and Earplay.
He has received commissions by the Wellesley Composers Conference, the Chamber Music Project at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Shouse Institute at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, National Arts Centre in Canada, Third Angle Ensemble, and Cantori at Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges. Upcoming projects include a new work for Ensemble Pi to be presented at their annual Peace Project Concert in New York City and the expansion of an existing work for Ensemble Paramirabo to premiere in Montréal this October. In the spring of 2015, New Dynamic Records will release a recording featuring one of Omiccioli’s works performed by Juventas New Music Ensemble.
Omiccioli is currently a resident with the Charlotte Street Urban Culture Project in Kansas City and production coordinator for newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. He was recently awarded a 2013 residency at Copland House and was a finalist for the 2013 Rome Prize. His primary composition teachers include James Mobberley, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, and Brian Bevelander. He holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he was a Preparing Future Faculty Fellow and Heidelberg University.
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