Biography

Born in Montreal, Nicholas Vasilakopoulos-Kostopoulos studies the violin at Juilliard with Catherine Cho, also currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. His previous instructors included Jonathan Crow and Jan Mark Sloman.

He has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, Peter Oundjian, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin–and has performed for Vengerov, Ehnes, and Hadelich. Nicholas graduated from the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy with a full scholarship from Marianne Oundjian. While in Toronto, he recorded Ysaÿe for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Koerner Hall (2023), also being invited to perform consecutively at the RCM Violin Symposium, and as soloist with the York Symphony Orchestra.

Notable performance venues include Carnegie Hall, La Maison Symphonique, the National Arts Centre of Canada, and the Embassy of Greece in Ottawa. Nicholas was awarded the Rapaport Fellowship (2025), NYO Canada BMO Award (2022), VIMC Gold Prize (2021). Previous chamber festivals include the Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) Youth Program, and Meadowmount. Orchestral positions have included: concertmaster of the Academy Chamber Orchestra and assistant concertmaster for the Royal Occasion.

Nicholas’ musical vocation extends beyond classical training. He plays the koto and hichiriki, which are traditional Japanese instruments. Recently, he performed Gagaku with retired directors of the Imperial Household Orchestra of Japan, including Ikebe, Gorō in Miller Theatre, Columbia.

Nicholas plays on a violin made by Carlo Antonio Testore, ca. 1740-50, a bow by Eugène Sartory, ca. 1920, and a baroque bow by T. Ewert, graciously provided to him by the company CANIMEX INC. from Drummondville, Québec.