Biography
Selected as one of the “Cool 100” by Houston CityBook Magazine alongside icons such as Simone Biles and Megan Thee Stallion, composer Nicky Sohn is a versatile and sought after voice in contemporary classical music. With a distinctive style characterized by jazz inspired, rhythmically driven themes and vivid, colorful orchestration, her music has been praised internationally as “undoubtedly the crowd pleaser of the evening” (YourObserver), “dynamic and full of vitality” (The Korea Defense Daily), showcasing “colorful orchestration” (NewsBrite), and evoking “elegant wonder” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
Sohn’s work has been commissioned and performed by leading orchestras and institutions including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Minnesota Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Albany Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and the National Orchestra of Korea. Her music has also been featured by the New York Choreographic Institute and Stuttgart Ballet, reflecting a broad artistic range across orchestral, chamber, vocal, and ballet repertoire. Her writing is often driven by storytelling, cultural reflection, and a deep interest in collaboration across disciplines.
Recent highlights include the premiere of her Guitar Concerto No. 1 with the Albany Symphony featuring guitarist Bokyung Byun, performed to sold out audiences and later presented in a sinfonietta version at the 2025 Tanglewood Music Festival. She composed a large scale ballet for BalletCollective, premiered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City in collaboration with choreographer Alysa Pires and visual artist Linn Meyers. Additional recent projects include a cello concerto commissioned by the University of Iowa and recorded by the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, and Galaxy Back to You for the Balourdet Quartet, commissioned following their Avery Fisher Career Grant and featured on their debut album.
The 2025 to 26 season marks a significant expansion of her orchestral presence, with three orchestral premieres by the Atlanta Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, and Orchestra Lumos. She is also currently composing a new orchestral work for the Amarillo Symphony for their 2026 to 27 season. Known for building strong relationships with performers, Sohn frequently works closely with soloists and ensembles to shape projects that bridge artistic excellence and human connection.
A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Sohn frequently works across artistic mediums and with community partners. Her violin concerto commissioned by Kinetic Ensemble and violinist Mary Grace Johnson in partnership with The Women’s Home in Houston created a platform for women overcoming addiction and homelessness to share their stories, reinforcing her belief that music can serve as a vehicle for advocacy, empathy, and dialogue.
Sohn has held fellowships and residencies with some of the most respected artistic institutions in the United States, including the Tanglewood Music Center as a Composition Fellow, the DACAMERA Young Artist Program, MUSIQA Houston, the Hambidge Center, and the UCross Foundation. A recipient of the Druckman Prize, she has also been commissioned by Robert Spano and the Aspen Music Festival. These honors reflect both her artistic excellence and her commitment to community engagement and creative leadership.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Sohn began piano lessons as a toddler and started composing at the age of seven. She graduated from high school at fourteen and earned her Bachelor of Music from Mannes College of Music, her Master of Music from The Juilliard School, and her Doctor of Musical Arts from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Her mentors include Gabriela Lena Frank, Anthony Brandt, Anna Clyne, Chris Theofanidis, Richard Lavenda, and Richard Danielpour.