Nackley, Nikolas

Baritone, Nikolas Nackley, is in demand for his work on both the concert and operatic stage in California, the East Coast, and abroad.  He has been heralded by the San Francisco Chronicle as “sonorous and heroic” and praised by the Boston Globe for his ability to “continually impress with his beautiful voice and acting.” 

Mr. Nackley makes his debut with the San Francisco Opera in 2025 and will perform the roles of Custom House Officer in "La Bohème", and Solo Inmate #5 in "Dead Man Walking".

Featured in the title role of West Edge Opera’s critically acclaimed “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria”, Nikolas returned to West Edge in 2019 to sing the role of Captain Bouchardon in the West Coast premiere Matt Mark’s opera, “Mata Hari”.   Credits include the role of Joe Pitt in the West Coast premiere of Peter Eötvös’s opera, “Angels in America”, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Adonis in Blow’s “Venus and Adonis” with Marin Baroque, Bach’s “St John Passion” and Mozart “Requiem” with the SF Bach Choir, Santa Clara Chorale, and Bay Choral Guild,  Figaro in Paisiello’s “Barber of Seville” with WEO’s Opera Medium Rare, the West Coast premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s “The Tempest Songbook” with the Eco Ensemble and Cal Performances, numerous appearances with the Cantata Collective, and a series of recitals in New Castle, England.  This spring he made his debut with the Arizona Music Fest performing the bass solos in Mozart's "Requiem".  

He has worked as a featured soloist under such conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Roger Norrington, Joana Carneiro, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bruno Weil, Craig Smith, Harry Christophers, John Harbison, and Pablo Heras Casado.     

Other recent engagements include the world premiere of Stacy Garrop’s “Terra Nostra” with the SF Choral Society as well as Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio”, Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass”  with the Bay Choral Guild, the role of Pallante in Handel’s “Agrippina” and the Badger/Parson in Janacek’s “The Cunning Little Vixen”  with West Edge Opera,  the West Coast premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s “Ashes of Roses” with the Santa Clara Chorale and Symphony Silicon Valley,  Brahms and Mozart Requiems with Sonoma Bach and the SF Bach Choir, the Duruflé “Requiem” with the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, as well as recording the Duruflé "Requiem" with the St. Lawrence and Omer quartets, available on Apple Music.

Highly sought after as master vocal teacher, vocal adjudicator, choral conductor and clinician, and stage director, Nikolas is on the faculty at the School of Music at SF State University as well as UC Berkeley where he is the director of vocal studies.