Nicolas Alvarez

Nicolas Alvarez is a percussionist originally from Greer, South Carolina. He is the Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at Wofford College. He earned his BM in Percussion Performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and his MM in Percussion Performance at the University of Georgia. Nico is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Percussion Performance at the University of Georgia studying with Timothy Adams and Kimberly Toscano Adams.

During his time at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music studying with Michael Rosen and Jamey Haddad, Nico realized he had a passion for Afro-Latin Percussion and for teaching. During one of his summers, he took an opportunity to study Afro-Latin Percussion in Costa Rica, which inspired him to go to Indiana University Bloomington to learn more from Dr. Joseph Galvin. From there, Nico went on to teach Afro-Latin American drumming at the University of Georgia. 

Nico has experience teaching marching percussion, as he has worked with several high school marching bands and held the Marching Band Percussion Instructor position at North Greenville University for three years, where he arranged and taught percussion music. 

Nico is a section percussion member at the Brevard Philharmonic. He has also played with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Greenville Theater, and the World Ballet.  

Outside of Music, Nico’s favorite hobby is to play soccer, as he has spent his entire life playing the sport. He also enjoys backpacking through the Appalachian Trail, weight lifting, and spending time with his wife, dogs, and friends.

Nico is a proud endorser of Artifact Percussion.