Biography
Nicholas Fairbank was born and raised on Canada's west coast, and now lives and works in Victoria, BC. He divides his time between his various musical activities as composer, collaborative pianist, harpsichordist and organist, conductor, adjudicator, clinician, teacher and singer (as the baritone in the vocal ensemble Hexaphone).
After early studies in Vancouver (piano with Michael Longton, Robert Cooper & Audrey Mallinson, pipe organ with Suzanne Gibson & Patrick Wedd) he pursued advanced musical training in London, England and Paris, France, studying organ with Christopher Herrick, Richard Popplewell and Naji Hakim. He has earned Master's degrees from the Université de Paris (Musicology & French literature), the University of California at Santa Barbara (French language and pedagogy), and the University of Victoria (Composition), as well as Associateship diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music (gold medal winner for pipe organ, 1981), and the Royal Canadian College of Organists (Willan and Barker prizes 1998). His composition teachers have included Stephen Chatman and John Celona. He is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of SOCAN.
Mr. Fairbank has recently been appointed Artistic Director of the Viva Youth Choirs, is also Director of Via Choralis chamber choir, and is on the keyboard and theory faculties of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. He is a member of the College of Examiners of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and is 2nd Vice-President of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. As an organ recitalist he performs across the country; recent tours have taken him to Charlottetown (PEI), Lunenburg (NS), Ottawa, Toronto & Windsor (ON), and Kelowna & Victoria (BC).
His catalogue of compositions includes more than 50 works for voice, piano and organ solo, and for various choral and instrumental ensembles. Some works are published by Mayfair Montgomery (CNCM), the RCCO, and FMP, while others are available through the Canadian Music Centre.