Meet Nicole DeMaio

We were lucky to catch up with Nicole DeMaio recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I am constantly inspired by the art that other musicians, visual artists, dancers, and theatre makers are putting out into the world. Devoting time to experiencing performances across various genres and disciplines is crucial for nurturing creativity. I love the feeling of attending a performance or seeing art at a gallery and then rushing home to my practice room, reinvigorated by what I saw or heard. While my own musical compositions and performances typically gravitate towards classical and musical theatre, I usually find the most value in listening to different genres of music. You can always find a small piece of someone else’s art that you want to go home and try for yourself, and it is so gratifying when you can find a way to make it your own.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My current career has always been, and likely always will be, made up of many different parts. I balance gigs as a performer, commissions as a composer, and teaching lessons. Outside of music, I also run two thriving Etsy shops, and manage Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble. My workload varies from week to week, as is true for any freelancer, which has proven to be a challenging yet rewarding lifestyle.

I have a few different college degrees in music. My undergrad was spent studying Music Education at Montclair State. my first Masters brought me to The Boston Conservatory, where I ended up staying for many years afterwards teaching Middle and High School classes at Boston College High School. I eventually moved back to New Jersey, where I was primarily raised, for a Masters in Multiple Woodwind Performance from New Jersey City University. My childhood was full of different art related experiences, ranging from piano lessons to dance classes, but playing clarinet and saxophone was what stuck. I am thankful to my parents for giving me so many chances to try different instruments, sports, and activities. Without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today!

As a performer, I split my time between working as a substitute on various Broadway shows, playing in orchestras, doing recording sessions, and other freelance gigs. I am a member of The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra and production company. We’ve done Carnegie Hall concerts, recorded with artists such as Julie Benko and Solea Pfeiffer, and performed at numerous galas and shows. Most notably, we were apart of Dylan Mulvaney’s 365 Days of Girlhood: LIVE from the Rainbow Room show, Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, and Laura Bell Bundy’s Women of Tomorrow concert. Outside of The Sinfonietta, I’ve appeared at Lincoln Center with Ariana DeBose. MCC Theatre with L Morgan Lee, and various other performances with Jessica Vosk, Brian d’Arcy James, Robin DeJesus, Lea Michele, Darren Criss, and more. I was also previously was on the American in Paris National Tour.

As a composer, I mostly take commissions for solo or chamber pieces. My piece “Solo for Bassoon Alone” was apart of the required repertoire for the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition. and I’ve been commissioned by The Rivers School Conservatory, Classical Music Indy, Infrasound, and Yale School of Music’s Music in Schools Initiative. I’ve started working a bit as a singer/songwriter. One of my songs, “Where I Was” has been featured in several videos and art instillations.

I also enjoy teaching private lessons to students of all ages and abilities. I work at Far Brook School in Short Hills, Kent Place School in Summit, and Monmouth University. I also teach out of my home studio. Spending time with students in a one-on-one setting is honestly one of my favorite things. It’s so special to get to share my love of music with others.

The last pieces of my puzzle are my personal projects; my two Etsy shops, and Black Sheep Contemporary. My Etsy shops, DeMaio Designs and The Gifted Musician, started as a way to make income during the pandemic with my digital art, and have morphed into one of my main streams of income. Who knew I’d make a living with stickers, magnets, and customized reed soaker cups? On the complete other end of things, I have BSCE, a group focused on performing new music. The group began back when I was living in Boston, and acts as a collective of different musicians, visual artists, and dancers. We’ve been featured in The Boston Globe, and have given numerous concerts, commissioned operas, and so much more. Check us out on Youtube to see what we do!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Adaptability, confidence, and passion.

A musician’s career will have many ups and downs, and you need to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown your way. So many of us lost work during the pandemic. I was on unemployment when I started my Etsy shop selling digital art. I’ve now expanded to running two different shops and making 5-figures a year from the comfort of my home. Adaptability is also important when performing. Curveballs come up at every gig, from wildly fluctuating temperatures to issues with electronic equipment. Being prepared for any situation is incredibly important.

Being confident when performing and teaching is vital. Audience members, fellow musicians, and your students can all tell when you’re starting to panic. Maintaining a straight face and a calm demeanor even when you don’t feel confident can help gain trust from everyone around you. The best way to make you that you are always confident is to be overly prepared.

Lastly, if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, it’s going to be much harder to do it, and to do it well. Not every gig will be your dream opportunity, but making sure that you are in some way invested in it keeps you engaged and sharp. Finding joy in your work and being grateful for each opportunity can only aid in your success.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
David H. Rosmarin’s book, “Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You,” has been immensely valuable in addressing my performance anxiety and imposter syndrome. It provided me with a framework to effectively manage the negative inner dialogue during stressful moments and equipped me with techniques to lead a less anxious life beyond professional settings. One of its key insights was recognizing and reducing the tendency to project negative thoughts and emotions onto others, while also aiding me in acknowledging and releasing past experiences that were less than ideal.

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Image Credits
Erika Kapin

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