Nicholas Ryan Kelly

Nicholas Ryan Kelly is a composer who draws inspiration from speculative fiction, science, and nature. He has been commended by the Vancouver Sun for his “sophisticated work of such immediate, glittery appeal” and called “a rising star in the constellation of Canadian composers” by Oregon Arts Watch.

First drawn to music's storytelling power by symphonic film scores, he now brings a sense of cinematic drama to music for choirs, orchestras, and wind bands throughout North America.

His choral compositions have been performed and released on CD by some of Canada's top choirs, including Chor Leoni, the Da Capo Chamber Choir, and Pro Coro Canada. Since 2015, he has received a dozen national and international awards for choral and wind band writing, including the Edwin Fissinger Choral Composition Prize. His instrumental music has been featured by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, and the West Point band of the U.S. Army, among many others.

Originally from rural New York State, Nick is now a Canadian citizen and lives in BC's beautiful Okanagan Valley, where he composes, conducts, and teaches private lessons. He completed degrees in music composition at Ithaca College (B.M.) and the University of British Columbia (M.Mus.)

His choral scores are published with Pavane Publishing, Cypress Choral Music, Renforth Music, and Alliance Music Publications. He also self-publishes through Lone Moose Music, distributed by MusicSpoke.

Browse compositions by Nicholas Ryan Kelly