Nicholas Fontana was raised outside of New Orleans, Louisiana and relocated to Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2011. As a young student Nicholas studied with Dr. Srebrenka Igrec, pupil of Gilbert Kalish and author of Theory Builder, and as a college student at Louisiana State University with Gregory Sioles and with Gina Bachauer medalist Michael Gurt.
In 2010 Nicholas sustained severe repetitive motion injuries and studied ergonomics from the ground up with local pianist, composer, and teacher Lisa Marsh, Director of the Coordinate Movement Program at Portland State University. After a successful recovery, Nicholas went on to study privately with Cliburn medalist and local legend Mark Westcott.
Nicholas has performed solo programs through House Concerts PDX, Classical Revolution, and The Old Church, and numerous other joint programs. His collaborative roles have included work with the Oregon Symphony, Friends of Chamber Music, and Portland Symphonic Choir. Nicholas has worked extensively in a collaborative role with singers, university choirs, and in chamber works.
Drawing on 17 years of teaching experience and more than 20 years of intensive study, Nicholas Fontana has had extensive training in various ergonomic disciplines--Alexander Technique, Bodymapping, the Taubman Technique--and in many standard teaching methods--Kodały Method, Suzuki, Hoffman, among others. Believing that one is never finished learning, he continues to hone his own ability and pursue an ever deeper understanding of what makes music-making possible. An active performer, Nicholas still practices daily in continued love and commitment to sharpening and honing of his craft, and so that his teaching never stops drawing on fresh experience.
Mr. Fontana is an active member of Oregon Music Teachers Association and National Federation of Music Clubs. He currently resides in northwest Portland, where he teaches and runs a large home studio. Nicholas has an equal passion for guiding others on their own musical journeys and has had the privilege of guiding students to place in local festivals, pass high level proficiency exams, and win scholarship competitions.
In his role as a teacher, Mr. Fontana believes that the primary goal in teaching is to first facilitate a positive, healthy relationship with the student and to help the student build a positive, healthy relationship with the piano, with themselves, ultimately with their surrounding world, and in the process, make beautiful music.
