Scott Nickrenz was appointed Music Director for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Over the last decade, Nickrenz established a world-class concert series at the Gardner Museum, attracting acclaimed artists from across the globe to perform for Boston audiences amid the unique setting of the museum’s Tapestry Room. Continuing the museum’s legacy of supporting young and emerging artists, Nickrenz created the Young Artists Showcase that takes place within the spring and fall concert series. As Music Director, he oversees the more than 40 concerts held annually at the Gardner. Among his recent projects, Nickrenz presented a special series of Vivaldi in the Courtyard concerts directed by flutist Paula Robison to celebrate the Gardner’s Centennial in 2003–04.
A violist, Nickrenz received his first music lessons from a country fiddler and gave his first performances in a dance band with his father, an amateur jazz pianist. When he was 18 he entered the Curtis Institute of Music. He left three years later to become violist and pianist in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a founding member of the Lenox String Quartet. He went on to found the Vermeer Quartet, the New Chamber Quintet, and the Orpheus Trio. He helped create “Third Stream Music” with the Modern Jazz Quartet and was a member of the Claremont String Quartet. In addition, Nickrenz has appeared on “Live from Lincoln Center” and the “The Today Show,” and has been profiled by People Magazine.
Nickrenz has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, South America, Africa, and the Far East, at the White House, as a frequent guest with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and at the Casals, Spoleto, Marlboro and Tanglewood Festivals. He was a founding faculty member of the North Carolina School for the Arts and has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music.
In 1975 Mr. Nickrenz became Director of Chamber Music for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). During his 13 years at BAM he presented chamber music artists from all over the world and produced three festivals of traditional American country music. From 1978 to 1995 he was the Director of the popular Chamber Music Concerts at the Spoleto Festivals in Charleston, North Carolina; Spoleto, Italy; and Melbourne, Australia. He remained Chamber Music Director in Spoleto, Italy until 2003. Nickrenz currently directs the Chamber Music program at the New World Symphony, Miami Beach, Florida.
Mr. Nickrenz is married to flutist Paula Robison and has two daughters—Erika Nickrenz, pianist of the Eroica Trio, and Elizabeth Nickrenz, graduate student of Human Development at the University of Chicago.
Sunday Concert Series — includes museum admission
Adults $23
Seniors $18 Members $15
College Students $10
Children ages 5-17 $5
(Children under 5 not admitted)
How to Purchase Tickets
Online: Tickets are available at www.ticketweb.com.
$4 average ticketing fee applies
By Phone: Call the Gardner’s Box Office at 617 278 5156,
Tues–Sun, 10am–4pm
$2 flat ticketing fee applies
At the Door: Tickets may be purchased at the front entrance of the museum,
Tues–Sun, 11am–4pm
Along with free museum admission and other benefits, Gardner members receive ticket discounts for concerts, lectures, and other programs. Become a member today!
Please Note: • Tickets purchased online within 10 days of the program are held at the door.
• Programs subject to change. No refunds or exchanges will be made.
• Children under 5 not admitted to concerts
