From prison to Carnegie Hall, Nic Patterson is not just a pianist—he is a force for transformation. His life is a crescendo of resilience, purpose, and artistry. After his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in January 2024, Nic returns on April 30, 2025, as soloist with Orchestra Manhattan, delivering a dynamic performance on the very day his newest book, Deeply Planted, is released.

A #1 bestselling author of The Art of Encouragement and Late Start Strong Finish: The Adult’s Guide to Piano Mastery, Nic uses both the stage and the page to inspire change. He’s a TED speaker, a TED speaker coach, and a PechaKucha presenter, known for weaving storytelling, humor, and live music into unforgettable keynote addresses that explore how music transforms communities, unlocks healing, and reconnects us to our shared humanity. In February 2025, he took a TED breakout audience of nonmusicians on a journey of learning a new instrument, learning a choral piece with lyrics etched on the spot, and performing it to a full audience with rave acclaim - in just 23 minutes. He has a live weeknight show called "Unwind" where he takes requests from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitch, and TikTok, performing 5 hours each week and bringing thousands of people into a place of relaxation, motivation, and encouragement. He also cohosts a weekly podcast on Fridays called "The Art of Encouragement" with friend and coauthor, Mark Gai.

As a recording artist, Nic has released 14 solo albums over the last 30 years and has collaborated in more than 40 recording projects as a pianist, vocalist, arranger, or producer. He has two Grammy nominations under his belt in composition. 

At just 13, Nic founded NicNac Creative, a creative think tank that helps entrepreneurs and visionaries turn bold ideas into unforgettable brands and experiences. His first major commission was designing the official memorial tribute for Princess Diana. Today, his company supports a diverse range of changemakers—from entreprenuers and nonprofits to medical practices, national performers, and companies of all sizes.

But Nic’s most powerful creation began behind bars. During his incarceration, he launched the Prison Music Project at the Lighthouse Chapel, where he developed an elective music course that taught over 450 men to read, write, and perform music. He also built and led a 65-member male choir that could sing in six-part harmony—a rare feat in a carceral setting. Nic believes: “Everyone who performs and plays should also compose. That is the missing link in modern music education.”

That seed has since grown into a nationwide initiative offered to over 1.9 million incarcerated individuals across the U.S. and Canada through The Storm Foundation, which Nic founded. The curriculum uses culturally relevant language and concepts to make music education accessible and empowering. Within The Storm Foundation’s restorative housing model, music is not just an activity—it is a required, life-giving tool for coping, expression, and reconnection.

Nic’s guiding mantra—“What we think about, we bring about”—is reflected in everything he touches. Another quote he lives by, “To plant trees under whose shade we may never sit,” fuels his dedication to legacy, especially for communities often left behind.

Nic’s classical journey began with Sandra Stark, deepened under legendary teacher Amanda Penick, and matured through 15 years of intensive study with Dr. Robert Cowan—a Juilliard and Royal College of Music-trained pianist and international performer.

He currently serves as Director of Music and Media at The Village Church at World Golf Village, leads The Storm Foundation, and was recently appointed head of Price Speaks, the speakers agency for creatives founded by renowned music manager Jack Price. He is a Masters level student at Harvard University with a degree focus in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Artificial Intelligence Integration and Programming. He is also Operations Director for the Young Artist Music project in St. Augustine, Florida where he resides.

Tonight’s performance is not just a return to Carnegie Hall—it is a celebration of redemption, a declaration of beauty born from brokenness, and an invitation to believe that every life can still find its song.

nicpatterson.com | nicnaccreative.com