Nicholas is currently writing a new work, The Chemistry of Angels, for the Dresden-based Stahlquartett. Stahlcellos - instruments crafted from curved sheets of metal attached to bowed rods - were devised by the late great overtone singer and musicologist Jan Heinke. The work explores our connection with the Cosmos and also features soprano Emma Tring, strings, overtone singing and Gongs. 

He is also working on Osden, a Sci-Fi themed opera based on a short story by Ursula Le Guin, involving overtone singing and conventional vocal techniques and the resulting potent sonic possibilities.

In 2022 Nicholas was appointed as composer in residence with the English Sinfonia who premiered his Mehta Songs with soprano Emma Tring and Planet Gong in the same year.

As a member of the London Conchord Ensemble he has had much of his music performed (notably in the USA and at London’s Wigmore Hall) and recorded. He has worked closely with overtone singers Rollin Rachele and Paul Terrell, tenors James Gilchrist, Toby Spence and Daniel Norman and sopranos Emma Tring and Olivia Robinson.

Nicholas grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ashdown Forest in Sussex and influenced by the creative environment of the local Rudolf Steiner School (Michael Hall). During the early nineties he wrote for the English Eurythmy Theatre who toured extensively in the USA and Europe with productions The Winds of Time and Storm’s Child.

War’s Embers, his settings of Ivor Gurney, was premiered in 2004 at the Wigmore Hall by tenor James Gilchrist, with Emily Pailthorpe, oboe d’amore and Julian Milford, piano. His series of compositions Harmoniae Naturales, explores his long-held fascination with natural tuning. Numbers I – III were written and premiered between 2005 – 2009. 2013 saw the world premier of Harmoniae Naturales IV, Luminescence, given by the Orpheus Sinfonia, cellist Tom Carroll and tenor Nigel Robson at St. George’s Hanover square, London. Also featured in this concert was …like Shining from Shook Foil, a setting of Hopkins’ transcendental poetry for soprano and orchestra with Olivia Robinson.

In 2015, the St. Paul’s Sinfonia featured Nicholas as their composer in residence, performing both Harmoniae Narurales IV and V, to Autumn. Harmoniae Naturales VI, a full-length work for soprano, tenor, overtone singers and orchestra – again involving Hopkins’ poetry – was premiered in 2019. The venue once more was St George’s, Hanover Square with the Orpheus Sinfonia conducted by Simon Wills, soprano Patricia Auchterlonie, tenor Daniel Norman and overtone singers Rollin Rachele, Wolfgang Saus, Lothar Berger and Jan Heinke.

Nicholas has held the position of Co-principal Horn with the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2000, and appears regularly as guest principal horn with many other ensembles. He lives in Hertfordshire with violinist Deborah Schlenther and their family.