Bosikom: The Music of Nicholas J. White

An evening of 21st century classical music

“Without composers and new music, our concert halls effectively become museums.” -John Mallia   

Bosikom: The Music of Nicholas J. White

Come enjoy an evening of new music composed by emerging classical composer Nicholas J. White, as he celebrates the American and World premieres of several new works including both instrumental and vocal selections.  Featuring members of the Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, FloriMezzo, American Stage, and others; this eclectic night of Music is a must see/must hear for the music lover and artist alike.

Bosikom : Barefoot…A celebration of the formally informal.  Nicholas J. White is a young composer who is emerging as one of the great musical talents of the world stage.  He has studied with several famous composers including John Mallia at the New England Conservatory, and Sergei Slonimksy at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, Russia:  the composer laurite of the Russian Federation and Europe’s most cherished living composer.  White’s work has been heard all over the world including Russia, England, China, and even Somalia, but this is the first time a solo concert of his works has been heard in the United States.

The evening’s performance will consist of mostly World Premiere performances including the song cycle Long Dead’s Longevity, 1957?: a setting of the Jack Kerouac poem, featuring the talents of Jim Petrecca – bassist with the Florida Orchestra, Michael McClelland – violist with the Sarasota Orchestra, and world class soprano Dawne Eubanks; and the American Premiere of his highly successful Twin “Yorke” Sketches for Solo Cello, featuring the mastery of cellist Grace Juliano.  Previously premiered works such as the Concert Duet for Soprano Saxophone and Violin, which White composed at the age of 16, will also make appearances along side short poetry readings, and the Bay Area Premiere of Secrets Anonymous, a short film written and directed by Benjamin Verhulst, for which White composed the simple yet haunting musical score.        

The title of the show, Bosikom, a Russian word meaning “barefoot”, plays at the composer’s attitude towards the formality and pomp of classical music.  While often quoting his friend and fellow composer John Mallia, that “without composers and new music our concert halls effectively become museums”, White also believes in the equal opportunistic nature of the art.  “Music shouldn’t be formal and funereal, requiring black suits and bowties; it should be for anyone and everyone at anytime.  All people can understand and enjoy music, even if all they can surmise is whether or not they like it.  Kick off your shoes and come enjoy the modern incarnation of the world’s oldest art.”  

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Nicholas J. White

Nicholas J. White is a 22 year old Florida native who has been involved in many facets of the arts community.  He graduated from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts @ Gibbs High School as an instrumental music major, and went on to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts (with John Mallia and Lee Hyla) and the Rimsky-Kosakov State Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, Russia (with Sergei Slonimsky) where he majored in Music Composition.  Since his return to the United States, White has been actively involved in both the music and theater community writing music for FloriMezzo and members of the Florida Orchestra respectively. He has worked on the technical crew for Grace, Altar Boyz, and Tuesdays with Morrie; and made his Acting debut as “The Producer” in the Studio’s production of Hugo.  He has most recently been seen as Tybalt in the Studio’s production of Romeo and Juliet, and will appear as Clarence in SecretTheater’s upcoming production of Richard III.  As a composer White’s work has been commissioned by various institutions including the Pinellas County School Board and The Studio@620.  Most recently he was asked to compose the music for a short film entitled Secrets Anonymous, written and directed by Florida based filmmaker Ben Verhulst.  Besides the United States, White’s work has seen premieres in more that 8 countries including Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Canada, The Netherlands, England, and Somalia.  He currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.