Nicholas Cords

Violist Nicholas Cords has performed with the Caramoor Virtuosi nearly every year for the past fifteen years or so. Beyond his remarkable performances with the Virtuosi, Nicholas Cords is known for having an open mind with a unique appreciation for the music of non-Western cultures.  In order to maintain his exposure to worldwide music, Cords is a member of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, a musical collective that metaphorically uses the historic Silk Road trading route to demonstrate musical exchange and creativity in the present.  In addition to performing with the ensemble, he has taken a role in the organization and development of new creative projects, programming for concerts and museum residencies and as an active part of two long-term residencies with the group. His worldly musical experience and extensive travels with Silk Road have made him “a more empathetic and flexible musician,” he self-claims.  Cords’ ability to admire and respect the works of other musicians has also helped him develop as a solo artist.  He is a founding member of Brooklyn Rider, an innovative string quartet that is making their encore performance at Caramoor this summer – you may remember their impressive performance at last year’s summer festival! According to NPR, the quartet is “recreating the 300-year-old form of string quartet as a vital and creative 21^st century ensemble.”  This summer, we will be lucky enough to hear Nicholas Cords with the Caramoor Virtuosi on June 27 and 28 and on July 7 with Brooklyn Rider!