From ballet to opera to Korean traditional-orchestra, the wide-ranging talent of composer Nicky Sohn is sought after across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Characterized by her jazz-inspired, rhythmically driven themes, Sohn’s work has been described as “like John Adams’ ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’ on steroids'' (YourObserver), “dynamic and full of  vitality” (The Korea Defense Daily), and having “elegant wonder” (Frankfurter Allgemeine  Zeitung). As a result, Sohn has enjoyed commissions from the world’s preeminent performing  arts institutions, including sold-out performances at the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, The National Orchestra of Korea, and the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra.  

Recent highlights include an orchestral premiere by the St. Louis Symphony overseen by John Adams, orchestral commissions and performances from National Orchestra Institute and Festival with Marin Alsop, Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä, Annapolis Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, National Theater of Korea, Sarasota Orchestra, and the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra under Hugh Wolff, and chamber commissions and performances from the violinist Lucia Lin (Boston Symphony), the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Moody Center, Carpe Diem String Quartet, Southern Exposure New Music Series, and Atlanta Chamber Players. Sohn recently received fellowships from The DACAMERA Young  Artist Program and MUSIQA Houston and was chosen as the first recipient of the UCross  Foundation fellowship through Rice University. Prior to this year, her music has been featured at renowned music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Perlman Music Program, Les Ecoles d’Art Américaines de Fontainebleau, Ars Nova with Unsuk Chin and the Seoul Philharmonic, and Chelsea Music Festival with Ken-David Masur, among others.  

Nicky Sohn is currently pursuing a fully-funded doctoral degree at the The Shepherd School of  Music of Rice University with Richard Lavenda and holds degrees from The Juilliard School and  Mannes College of Music. She is grateful to her pedagogues, which include Robert Beaser, Anthony Brandt, Karim Al-Zand, Richard Lavenda, Chris Teofanidis, and Richard Danielpour.