Rainier
A music and photography lover
Happy Birthday by Master Composers - Nicole Pesce on piano
Nicole Pesce: Bio
Nicole is recognized as one of the “top ten musicians to hear in Phoenix” by the Arizona Republic. Her musical repertoire consists of over 12,000 memorized songs ranging from Chopin to Lady Gaga. Stylistically including Classical, Jazz, Ragtime, Blues, Boogie Woogie, Broadway, Latin, Oldies, Pop, Opera, Spiritual, Country, Rock, Funk and Hip Hop. She is often seen “text messaging” while playing intricate piano pieces!
Through the years, Nicole has had the rare privilege of performing for Muhammad Ali, Ricky Martin, George Bush, Sr., Waylon Jennings, Janet Napolitano, Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, The Gypsy Kings, Margaret Cho, Verne Troyer, Phyllis McGuire and Brian Setzer. She’s performed alongside American Idol Finalist David Hernandez, The Moscow Ballet, The Cast of Mary Poppins, The Cast of Young Frankenstein, Debbie Reynolds, Jerry Lewis, and Broadway Singer/Actor Jordan Allen.
As a composer, Nicole currently has over 300 songs in her catalog. In 2003, she was asked to write the title track to the compilation CD “Amada.” – dedicated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A few years later, Nicole’s original music was again featured in a documentary film for the Komen foundation presented at the Pink Tie Gala in Tampa, Florida.
At the age of seven, Nicole began playing piano, and after only six months of lessons, she committed over 100 songs to memory and performed publicly for the first time at the Phoenix Country Club’s annual holiday gathering. By age ten, over 500 songs were committed to memory and she won First place in the Discovery Television National Competition. Shortly after, she landed a steady gig at the Phoenician Resort becoming one of the youngest pianists ever to play for high tea. At age 11, Nicole began composing music, and at 14 appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon which aired to over sixty million viewers. An extensive tour of the US with Jerry followed that. And while in Las Vegas Nicole had the pleasure of performing with Debbie Reynolds at her hotel and Casino. Numerous performances followed for celebrities like Rich Little, Buddy Grecko, Pat Boone, Barbara Stanwyck and Nat King Cole’s younger brother Ike Cole.
Nicole has appeared on some of Phoenix’s prime time news and community TV and radio stations, like Good Morning Arizona, In Your Life, Sonoran Living, The Pat McMahon Show, Arts on the Town - AM 1100, KFNZ, Sonoran Living, AM 1480, Fox 10 news, Channel 3 News and a special feature presentation on Channel 13 for Glendale AZ's community programming. Magazine and Newspaper Features include Phoenix Magazine, The AZ Republic, The New Times, Phoenix Downtown Magazine and West Valley Living.
Previous engagements include: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, The American Bach Summer Choir concert series, El Pedregal, Sonoma Showcase Festival at Vistancia Village, The Wrigley Mansion, Phoenician Resort, Trinity Cathedral, The Gardens at the Biltmore Fashion Park, Poetry and Music festival at the Shemer Arts Center, The 26th Annual Jazz and Blues Festival, The Sahara Hotel, Desert Inn, Point at South Mountain and The Borgata.
For over seven years, Nicole appeared five nights a week at downtown Phoenix’s My Florsit Café and attracted a “cult”following amongst fans. Some of her most requested songs are: “The Flight of the Bumble Bee,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Charlie Brown Song,” “Theme from Super Mario Brothers” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Currently, Nicole performs at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Phoenix and has the distinct pleasure of working with the very talented vocalist, entertainer and Tea Sommelier…Jeffrey Hattrick.
“One of the top 10 musicians in the valley.” – The AZ Republic 2010
“A one-woman piano phenomenon.” Kenneth LaFave – Phoenix Magazine
“Phoenix’s best new keyboard Queen” - The AZ Republic 2006
“She’s like a Human Ipod” – Phoenix Magazine
“The best reason to stop, linger and listen to music” Best of Phoenix Award, 2004
“Nicole Pesce makes a lot of stuff sound cool!!” – Robert Pela, The New Times.
“She'll no doubt be making her Carnegie Hall debut someday soon. ”– Phoenix Downtown Magazine
“Simply the best!! What a fine and rare talent.” – Jerry Lewis
