Nicholas
Crist

Nicholas D. Crist earned a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, studying under Dr. Gregory Hamilton. He went on to complete a Master of Music in Cello Performance at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas, where he studied under Dr. Andrew Smith and held a Graduate Assistantship in Cello Performance.

At Concordia, Nicholas was Principal Cellist of the Emmy award–winning Concordia Orchestra, touring with the ensemble both nationally and internationally. At UNLV he again held the principal chair, this time with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra. Today he performs as a cellist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra while working as a freelance musician across the Twin Cities — real performance experience he carries directly into his teaching.

Nicholas was a founding member of the Aeon String Quartet during his graduate studies. Along the way he has taken masterclasses with world-class musicians including Emilio Colón, Frank Huang, and Matthew Hunter, as well as the Miró String Quartet and the Telegraph String Quartet — experiences he draws on to help students grow as both soloists and ensemble players.

Whether you're picking up the cello for the first time or refining advanced repertoire, Nicholas teaches students of all ages and skill levels. His background — from principal orchestral chairs and a founding quartet seat to active symphony performance — shapes lessons around solid technique, musical expression, and the music you most want to play.