Nicholas Brown is a New England-based clarinetist, educator, and community builder dedicated to expanding audiences and deepening the ways classical music brings people together.

As a clarinetist, Nicholas maintains a vibrant and multifaceted performance career. He holds tenured positions with the Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra, Portland Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, and Boston Festival Orchestra, and performs regularly with ensembles across New England. He has appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops, Concord Orchestra, and New Bedford Symphony, and has been a featured artist with institutions such as the Library of Congress, Celebrity Series of Boston, and the Newport Music Festival. His playing can be heard on acclaimed recordings including Carlos Simon’s GRAMMY-nominated Requiem for the Enslaved (Decca Records), Unseen Paths (PARMA Records), and future releases with Albany Records.

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Boston Festival Orchestra, Nicholas has transformed a bold vision into one of Boston’s most dynamic and community-rooted musical institutions. Since 2019, the BFO has presented more than forty events to over 10,000 audience members across Greater Boston through symphonic concerts, educational partnerships, and pop-up performances. With access as a guiding principle, every BFO program includes a no-cost ticket option and is designed to foster connection, curiosity, and musical understanding. At its core, the BFO is a platform for meaningful artistic experiences that invite people to engage with classical music in ways that are personal and meaningful.

As a mentor and teaching artist, Nicholas works with young musicians at Concord Academy and the New England Conservatory’s Summer Orchestra Institute. He helps students grow as curious, focused artists by encouraging creative thinking, clear communication, and self-reflection. His approach not only develops strong musicians, but also thoughtful collaborators and future industry leaders. This same belief in access, connection, and empowerment shapes his work through the Boston Festival Orchestra MusicReach program, where he designs and leads educational experiences in schools and neighborhood spaces that are welcoming, relevant, and responsive.

Originally from Portland, Maine, Nicholas is a graduate of Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music and an alumni of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. His work is grounded in the belief that classical music connects people, ideas, and industries, and plays a vital role in shaping the culture of tomorrow.