Pianoforte Adjudicators

 

Bonnie Nicholson is a pianist, teacher and chamber musician from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Her degrees include a Bachelor of Music (Performance, 1984) and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Saskatchewan (1987), as well as an A.R.C.T. in Piano Performance from the R.C.M. (1984).    Teachers and influences are varied and include her mentor Robin Harrison (Saskatoon), Janet Wendland (Prince Albert), Mark Westcott (Summer School, Vancouver, B.C.) and Claude Savard (Academie d’Orford).

  

From 1986 to 2023, Bonnie served as a Sessional Lecturer in Piano, at the Department of Music, U of S, in Saskatoon.  As part of her solo and teaching career, she has received many awards, including the U of S College of Arts and Science Distinguished teacher Award for BA, BFA and BMus Programs (2018). In 2020, she received a Teacher of Distinction Award from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), again nominated by her students.

 

Bonnie is a huge supporter of the Saskatchewan Music Festival System. She was first involved as a solo pianist and then as a collaborator, an adjudicator and clinician. Bonnie has served on the provincial SMFA Board, and currently is the Past president of the local Saskatoon board. As the official accompanist for the Saskatchewan team to the National FCMF level more than 18 times, she was fortunate to travel to many centres across Canada. Bonnie has also served as a National adjudicator for the Canadian Music Competitions on a tour that stretched from Halifax to Vancouver. (2009)

 

In June of 2012, Bonnie fulfilled a lifelong dream to tour and teach in China, visiting Universities in five major Chinese cities with saxophonist, Dr. Glen Gillis. In July of 2015, Bonnie accompanied Dr. Gillis at the International Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France and again at the 2018 Congress in Zagreb, Croatia.

 

Bonnie Nicholson appears on CD with pianist Dianne Gryba, bass-baritone Henri Loiselle, the Saskatoon Children’s Choir, the Saskatoon Fireside Singers, trumpeter Dean McNeill’s disc entitled “Melange”, and saxophonist Glen Gillis’ three discs entitled “SaxSpectrum”1,2 and 3.

 

Bonnie feels lucky to have two amazing sons and two fabulous daughter-n-laws. She loves to travel the world with soul – mate Stephen, and they are proud grandparents to Eli and Margo Lynn. She currently runs Studio Nic from her home, teaching 15 students age 11 and up. Bonnie is the proud pianist and orchestral co-ordinator for the Saskatoon Fireside Singers under the artistic direction of mentor Marilyn Whitehead.