Dr. Nikolas Caoile
Nikolas Caoile is a sought-after conductor, pianist, and educator. Concurrently serving as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Salem Chamber Orchestra, Music Director and Conductor of the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Director of Orchestras at Central Washington University, Caoile’s artistic leadership has made an impact with professional, community, and academic orchestras. Caoile regularly guest conducts many other orchestras including: Northwest Mahler Festival Orchestra, the Rainier Symphony and the Yakima Symphony. He made his New York City debut in 2009 conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas in collaboration with the Christopher Wheeldon's Morphoses Dance Company at New York City Center.
A passionate believer in music education for all ages, Caoile has been invited to direct many secondary level honor groups including the Alaska and Indiana All-State Orchestra, the Washington All-State Jr. Orchestra as well as many regional honor orchestras in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon and Indiana. He has also led guest clinics and adjudications at orchestra festivals and high schools throughout the Northwest. Caoile also serves as Music Director for the Kairos Chamber Music Lyceum and the Icicle Creek Summer Symphony.
Caoile frequently performs as a collaborative pianist throughout the Northwest. He has performed with Third Angle New Music Ensemble, the Yakima Seasons Festival, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Woods House Conservatory of Music, and Chamber Music Madness. Recently, he has performed with violinist Denise Dillenbeck, cellist John Michel, mezzo-soprano Melissa Schiel and flutist Sarah Tiedeman.
A passionate advocate for opera repertoire as well, Caoile has served on the music staff of the Aspen Opera Theater Center, Seattle Opera, Seattle Opera Young Artists, and Bel Canto Vocal Institute. He has conducted performances of Rigoletto, The Bartered Bride, Die Fledermaus, The Cunning Little Vixen, Die Entführung auf dem Serail, The Turn of the Screw, The Tender Land, Hänsel und Gretel, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Così fan Tutte. Caoile also leads Baroque opera from the harpsichord (productions have included Dido and Aeneas, Giasone, and L’incoronazione di Poppea.)
Nikolas Caoile is from Portland OR and now resides in Ellensburg WA with his wife, mezzo-soprano, Melissa Schiel and their son, Kieran. Caoile holds degrees from the University of Michigan, University of Washington, and Willamette University. He recently accepted a nomination to join Phi Beta Kappa as a member of the Willamette chapter, Delta of Oregon. Caoile also enjoys playing golf, NYT Crosswords and cooking.