Horn player Nicolee Kuester divides her time between experimental music and works from the Western musical canon. A recent transplant to New York City from the West Coast, she was principal horn of the La Jolla Symphony, where she also appeared as a concerto soloist, and former principal horn of the Orquesta de Baja California. She also performed with the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera. In 2011, Nicolee appeared with Ensemble Intercontemporain in a concert tour of Boulez’s Pli selon pli, conducted by the composer. Her work as a collaborative experimental musician and performance artist has been featured at festivals in Norway, Switzerland, and on both coasts of the United States.
As an avid chamber musician, Nicolee has spent summers at the Marlboro Music Festival and Lucerne Festival Academy. She has also performed throughout San Diego with ensembles such as the Palimpsest Ensemble, San Diego New Music, and Renga Ensemble. She holds undergraduate degrees in music performance and creative writing from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and is completing her doctorate in contemporary horn performance at the University of California, San Diego. As part of her fellowship with Ensemble Connect, Nicolee teaches at High School for Public Service: Heroes of Tomorrow in Brooklyn.