Nicholas Urquhart
Nicholas Urquhart is the VPO’s assistant conductor and recipient of the VPO Wallace Leung Memorial Internship. A Vancouver based conductor, double bassist and music educator, he holds degrees in Music as well as Education. Nicholas began his conducting studies while studying double bass with Gary Karr at the University of Victoria. There he studied with conducting mentors Janos Sandor and Yariv Aloni, earning his Bachelor’s in Music with distinction. Nicholas continued his conducting studies in Vancouver with Kenneth Hsieh, Morihiro Okabe and Bujar Llapaj.
Nicholas has worked with a number of musical ensembles in B.C. including, the West Coast Symphony, Kabok Chamber Strings, Elgar Strings, Lord Byng Symphony Orchestra, BCMEA Honour Orchestra, University of Victoria Chamber Orchestra (a group which he founded), A Little Night Music Orchestra, Plastic Acid Chamber Strings, Surrey Youth Orchestra and West Vancouver Youth Orchestra. As well, Nicholas is a regular clinician with the Vancouver and Burnaby school boards. Nicholas is currently in his third year as the assistant conductor for the Canada Day Pops Orchestra.
Nicholas continues his double bass playing as a freelance artist, playing with ensembles including, the Vancouver Chamber Players, Opera Appassionata and the Kamloops Symphony, and he is the President of the West Coast Symphony.
