Pianist
“An immaculate pianist whose performances combine strength, agility, and expressive clarity.”
Nicole Chao is a New Zealand–Taiwanese pianist active as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative artist. Her performances are distinguished by clarity of structure, interpretative precision, and ensemble sensitivity, with a repertoire spanning solo, chamber, and collaborative works.
She is the founding member of the piano duo Duo Enharmonics, which toured extensively across New Zealand and appeared at major festivals and concert series. In 2025, she appeared as a double piano soloist with Duo Enharmonics in collaboration with the Wairua Sinfonietta in Auckland.
Her work is focused on musical communication, interpretative clarity, and collaborative engagement, with a particular emphasis on chamber music performance.
Her performances have been described as “complete,” with critics noting her instinctive musical understanding, responsiveness, and ensemble cohesion.
New Zealand–Taiwanese pianist Nicole Chao completed her graduate studies at the New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington, under the mentorship of American pianist Prof. Thomas Hecht. She is a laureate of numerous national and international awards and scholarships, including top prizes at the Kapiti Coast National Piano Competition (New Zealand) and the North Queensland Piano and Instrumental Concerto Competition (Australia). Nicole has established herself as a versatile and expressive performer, both as a soloist and a collaborative artist.
Education & Recognition
Nicole Chao is an active solo and chamber musician. Her performances are distinguished by expressive control and interpretative depth.
She has received critical acclaim for performances distinguished by expressive control and interpretative depth, with reviewers highlighting a “dazzling display of speed, agility, and clarity” and “a sense of high romanticism that was deeply rewarding.”
She regularly collaborates with members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand String Quartet, and Orchestra Wellington, and is active in repertoire-driven chamber music projects.
Her work has been presented in concert series, festival contexts, and radio broadcasts throughout New Zealand.
Performances
Alongside her performing career, Nicole is a dedicated teacher, coach, and mentor committed to fostering the next generation of musicians. Her teaching emphasises musical independence, collaboration, and long-term artistic development. She has coached multiple ensembles to the national finals of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest, including prize-winning groups and recipients of the Joan Kerr National Award. She also serves as an adjudicator for the contest, contributing her experience and insight to support and inspire young musicians across Aotearoa.
Teaching & Mentoring
REVIEWS
“an immaculate pianist” who “displayed great strength”
— Kāpiti Observer
"A performance of high musical intelligence and impressive virtuosity."
"Nicole gave an authoritative performance, demonstrating a subtle and tonal refinement across a range of keyboard colourings."
— Lindis Taylor, Middle C
“Chao’s sense of high romanticism was rewarding, producing impassioned playing.”
“A performance distinguished by an atmospheric, finely-detailed, and splendidly volatile touch.”
— Lindis Taylor, Middle C
“Two masterpieces for the ‘cello-and-piano repertoire, delivered by a pair of musicians regarded as among the country’s top players of their respective instruments... a dream prescription for a concert!”
“We couldn’t have asked for anything more satisfying from two musicians in absolute accord with one another and with the music!”
“Chao’s instinctive capacity for mutual understanding... [turned] Beethoven’s simplest of phrase-resolutions into a precious kind of homecoming, complete with a ‘grandstand finish’!”
"A COMPLETE performance!"
— Peter Mechen, Middle C
A selection of performance recordings is available on Nicole Chao’s YouTube channel.
Wathc on YouTube channel