Nicholas Brown is a New England-based musician, educator, and community builder dedicated to expanding audiences and connecting with people through classical music.

As a clarinetist, Nicholas maintains a vibrant performance career. He holds positions with the Boston Festival Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra, Portland Symphony, and New Bedford Symphony, and performs regularly with ensembles across New England. He has appeared as soloist with the Boston Festival Orchestra, Boston Pops, Concord Orchestra, and New Bedford Symphony, and has been a featured artist with institutions such as the Celebrity Series of Boston, Library of Congress, and the Newport Music Festival. His playing can be heard on recordings including Carlos Simon’s GRAMMY-nominated Requiem for the Enslaved (Decca Records), Unseen Paths (PARMA Records), and future releases with Albany Records.

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Boston Festival Orchestra, Nicholas has transformed a bold vision into one of Boston’s most dynamic and community-rooted musical institutions. Since 2019, the BFO has presented more than fifty events to over 15,000 audience members across Greater Boston, bringing people together through orchestral concerts, educational partnerships, and community performances. With access as a guiding principle, all BFO programs include a no-cost option and are designed to foster connection, inspire curiosity, and create space for audiences to find their own meaning in the music. At its core, the BFO is a platform for meaningful artistic experiences that invite people to engage with classical music in ways that are personal and unique.

As a mentor and educator, Nicholas serves on the faculty at Concord Academy and the New England Conservatory’s Summer Orchestra Institute. He encourages creative thinking, clear communication, and self-reflection, tailoring instruction to each student’s goals and their vision for music in their life. This approach helps students to see music in a broader context, deepening its relevance and enabling them to gain even greater value from their study. This same belief in access and empowerment shapes Nicholas’ work through the Boston Festival Orchestra’s MusicReach program, where he designs and leads musical experiences that are welcoming, responsive, and curated for the communities that they serve.

Originally from Portland, Maine, Nicholas is a graduate of Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music and an alumni of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. His work is grounded in the belief that classical music links people, ideas, and industries, and plays a vital role in shaping the culture of tomorrow.