Biography
Selected as one of the "Cool 100" by Houston CityBook Magazine, alongside icons like Simone Biles and Megan Thee Stallion, composer Nicky Sohn is a versatile and sought-after voice in contemporary classical music. With a distinctive style characterized by jazz-inspired, rhythmically driven themes, her work has been praised internationally for being “undoubtedly the crowd pleaser of the evening” (YourObserver), “dynamic and full of vitality” (The Korea Defense Daily), showcasing “colorful orchestration” (NewsBrite), and evoking “elegant wonder” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
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Sohn has received commissions and performances from major institutions, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Minnesota Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Albany Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and National Orchestra of Korea. Her work has also been featured by the New York Choreographic Institute, Stuttgart Ballet, and Dogs of Desire reflecting her broad artistic range across orchestral, vocal, ballet, and socially driven music projects.
A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Sohn says, “I’m obsessed with the collaborative aspects of it—working with artists across disciplines. Hearing my work meld with someone else’s imagination is incredibly fulfilling.” A notable example is her violin concerto commissioned by Kinetic Ensemble and violinist Mary Grace Johnson in partnership with The Women’s Home in Houston, an organization supporting women overcoming addiction and homelessness. The project provided a platform for these women’s stories, reinforcing Sohn’s commitment to using music as a vehicle for advocacy and connection.
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Recent highlights include the premiere of Nicky Sohn’s guitar concerto with the Albany Symphony, featuring world-renowned guitarist Bokyung Byun. The performances received rave reviews and sold-out shows, with the chamber orchestra version set to be featured in the 2025 Tanglewood Music Festival season. Sohn also worked with the Balourdet Quartet on Galaxy Back to You, a piece commissioned following their Avery Fisher Career Grant win, which will be included on their debut CD. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, Sohn is composing a large-scale ballet for BalletCollective, in collaboration with celebrated choreographer Alysa Pires and acclaimed visual artist Linn Meyers. Additionally, she is writing a new concert opener for the Atlanta Symphony.
Nicky Sohn was recently a composition fellow at Tanglewood, one of the world’s most prestigious music festivals, and has held fellowships with the DACAMERA Young Artist Program, MUSIQA Houston, the Hambidge Center, and the UCross Foundation. A recipient of the Druckman Prize, Sohn has also been commissioned by Robert Spano and the Aspen Music Festival. Her work spans collaborations with a diverse range of notable ensembles, including WindSync, the Isidore Quartet, Kinetic Ensemble, Stuttgart Ballet, Lucia Lin (Boston Symphony), the Carpe Diem String Quartet, the Bergamot String Quartet, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, the Kodan Quintet, the Cavani String Quartet, and the Green Mountain Music Festival. She has composed for leading orchestras such as the Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Annapolis Symphony, along with working on innovative projects that blend classical music with other art forms. From orchestral works to chamber pieces and ballet commissions, her music has been celebrated for its energy, richness, and versatility across multiple performance contexts.
Sohn is currently pursuing a fully funded doctoral degree at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and holds a Master of Music from The Juilliard School. A dedicated musician from a young age, she graduated from high school at 14 and earned her Bachelor of Music from Mannes College of Music. Her mentors include Gabriela Lena Frank, Anthony Brandt, Anna Clyne, Chris Theofanidis, Richard Lavenda, and Richard Danielpour.