Personal profile
Person Introduction
South African-born Dr Nico de Villiers is a pianist, coach, and researcher and is the Deputy Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. He holds degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the University of Michigan, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Prior to his appointment at RNCM, Nico worked as vocal coach at various institutions including the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA), the Royal College of Music (London, UK), and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, UK).
Current Research
Nico is currently investigating the life and music of Dutch-American Richard Hageman (1881-1966), with a specific focus on his art song as well as the interchanging influence between his work in Hollywood’s Golden Age and his concert music.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
2014 → 2018
Award Date: 1 Jan 2018
Master, MMus Collaborative piano, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2005 → 2007
Award Date: 1 Apr 2007
Bachelor, BMus (Hons) Piano performance, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
2001 → 2005
Award Date: 1 Jul 2005
External positions
Assistant stage director, Royal Academy of Music
2019
Visiting vocal coach, Royal College of Music
2018 → 2019
Vocal coach and academic lecturer, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
2017 → 2022
Piano professor, University of Bristol
2017 → 2019
Vocal coach and academic lecturer, Leeds Conservatoire
2011 → 2017
Graduate teaching assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2005 → 2007
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
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Richard Hageman: The Becoming of a Song Composer
de Villiers, N., Oct 2025, New York, USA: Peter Lang Publishing Group. 220 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Echoed Voices
de Villiers, N. (Performer), 19 Jul 2024Research output: Non-textual form › (Research) Performance
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On Migration, Exile and Cosmopolitanism: A Brief Survey of South African Art Song
de Villiers, N., 2023, In: Journal of Singing. 80, 2, p. 145-156Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sounding Out a Poet in Disguise: Richard Hageman's Robert Nathan Settings
de Villiers, N., Mar 2023, In: VoicePrints. 20, 4, p. 66-77 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Singing the Songs of Rabindranath Tagore: Richard Hageman's Settings from The Gardener
de Villiers, N., Mar 2022, In: VoicePrints. 19, 4, p. 48-58 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Double Lives in Music: Cultural Mobility Between the Silver Screen and Concert Stage
de Villiers, N. (Speaker)
15 Aug 2025Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Oral presentation
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Teaching Tools for Lyric Diction
de Villiers, N. (Speaker)
29 Apr 2025Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Oral presentation
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Investigating the current challenges and discovering workable solutions for the future of opera companies in South Africa
de Villiers, N. (Examiner)
22 May 2024 → 3 Jul 2024Activity: Examination
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An “At Home” with Richard Hageman (1881-1966)
de Villiers, N. (Speaker)
2024Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Oral presentation
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Echoing Voices: The Influences on Richard Hageman (1881-1966) as Song Composer
de Villiers, N. (Speaker)
2023Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Oral presentation