Nicholas Recuber

Contact Information

Professional/Academic Experience

Nicholas Recuber is the Assistant Principal Bassist in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and an Artist-In-Residence in String Bass in the School of Music at the University of Northern Colorado. Mr. Recuber was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began his studies on the double bass at age 14. Initially interested in jazz, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Rowan University in New Jersey with his principal teacher Doug Mapp.  As he became more attracted to classical music, he began taking lessons from John Hood of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He then attended the Juilliard School where he earned his Master’s degree under the tutelage of Ms. Orin O’Brien. He continued his studies with Nico Abondolo at the University of Southern California where he was awarded a graduate certificate and then spent two years as a fellow with the New World Symphony. In addition to his work with the Colorado Symphony, he has served as principal bassist of the Santa Barbara Symphony, as acting associate principal bass with the Los Angeles Chamber orchestra.  He has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, and in France with the Ensemble Intercontemporain conducted by Pierre Boulez. Mr. Recuber has also performed at the Pacific Music Festival, the Music Academy of the West, the Lucerne Academy, the Colorado Music Festival, and the Moab Music Festival.

In 2017 Mr. Recuber released “Fantasies for the Double Bass,” which features two Telemann Violin Fantasies transcribed and edited for the Double Bass. Published by Carl Fischer, this edition adds to the bass repertoire by giving players a stepping stone between the simple baroque sonatas of Marcello and Vivaldi and the complex cello suites by Bach. Throughout the two suites bassists are exposed to beatiful melodies and complex technical passage work.

Mr Recuber is also interested in the possibilities of combining orchestral music with contemporary artists. This led to Mr. Recuber conceiving and producing a collaboration between local Colorado artists and the Colorado Symphony performing songs from singer songwriter Beck’s album Song Reader. Mr. Recuber worked closely with Nathaniel Rateliff, Otis Taylor, and The Hollyfelds to arrange and curate the concert in a way that would satisfy both the classical and non-classical audience and performers alike. The show was performed at Westword’s Music Showcase, and recorded at The Colorado Public Radio studios.