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Pianist, keyboardist, composer and arranger Nicole Pesce entertains audiences with her unique blend of virtuosity, humor and pizzazz. Nicole’s YouTube “Happy Birthday Variations” video currently has nearly six million views.
The summer of 2019 included a European voyage consisting of performances in some of Paris' most esteemed jazz venues along with a visit to the prestigious Fazioli Piano Factory in Sacile, Italy.
2018 featured a Chicago visit resulting in performances at the Hilton hotel and the Green Mille jazz club. 2018 also included numerous headline performances including sold out shows with "We3" (featuring Renee Grant Patrick and Suzanne Lansford) at venues like the MIM, Chandler Jazz Festival and more.
Arizona Foothills Magazine honored Nicole with the “Best of 2014 Award” for Best Local Band/Musician. With a repertoire consisting of over 12,000 memorized songs; Nicole is often dubbed “the human iPod” and is recognized as one of the “top ten musicians to hear in Phoenix” by the Arizona Republic.
Nicole has performed for Muhammad Ali, George Benson, Ricky Martin, George Bush, Sr., Waylon Jennings, Taylor Hicks, Janet Napolitano, Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, Steve Nash, The Gypsy Kings, Verne Troyer and Brian Setzer. She’s appeared with American Idolcontestant David Hernandez, The Moscow Ballet, Zowie Bowie, The Cast of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Mamma Mia, and White Christmas.
At the age of 7, Nicole began playing piano and quickly committed over 100 songs to memory. By age 10, over 500 songs were memorized and she won First place in the Discovery National Television Competition. At age 11, Nicole began composing music; by 14, she appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon which aired to over sixty million viewers followed by an extensive US tour. During a year long residency in Las Vegas, Nicole had the pleasure of performing on stage with Debbie Reynolds at Debbie’s hotel and Casino. Numerous performances followed for Rich Little, Buddy Greco, Pat Boone, Lew King and Barbara Stanwyck.
Nicole has appeared on Phoenix’s prime time news, television and radio stations, including: 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 with Rico D’amico & Cory McCloskey and Channel 3 News. Magazine and newspaper articles include Phoenix Magazine, The AZ Republic, The New Times, Phoenix Downtown Magazine and West Valley Living.
As a composer with a catalog of over 300 songs, Nicole was commissioned to write the title track to the compilation CD “Amada” – dedicated to the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Following the CD release, Nicole’s original music was featured in a documentary film for the Koman foundation presented at the Pink Tie Gala in Tampa, Florida.
For over a decade, Nicole was the resident pianist at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix where she regularly entertained audiences with vocalist Jeffrey Hattrick - playing everything from Bach to Lady Gaga, with styles including Classical, Jazz, Ragtime, Blues, Boogie Woogie, Broadway, Latin, Oldies, Pop, Opera, Spiritual, Country, Rock, Funk and Hip Hop.
Previous performances include: The Orpheum Theater, The Tempe Center for the Arts, Herberger Theater, Desert Ridge Marriott, Phoenix Theater, ASU Kerr Cultural Center, The Promenade, Mesa Arts Center, The Phoenician Resort, Wrigley Mansion, The Borgota, The Fairmont Princess Hotel, The Nash, The Biltmore Resort and the Shemer Arts Center.
“Jaw Dropping. A dazzling piano genius.” – Stacy Sullivan – azcentral.com
“One of the top 10 musicians in the valley.” – The AZ Republic
“A one-woman piano phenomenon.” – Kenneth LaFave – LeFave On The Arts
“Phoenix’s best new keyboard Queen” – The AZ Republic
“I enjoy the amazing tinkling of the ivories by pianist Nicole Pesce” – David Liebowitz - Channel 3 News
“She’s like a Human iPod” – Phoenix Magazine
“Nicole Pesce makes a lot of stuff sound cool!!” – Robert Pela – The New Times