Katherine Nies

Katherine Nies is a genre-blending concert pianist, vocalist, composer, and storyteller whose roots run deep in jazz, classical, and folk traditions. Raised on a mix of her mother’s Peruvian and Puerto Rican folk guitar and her father’s jazz piano, she brings a soulful, improvisational spirit to everything she plays. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Katherine received her classical training under Hsien-Ann Meng, Gerda Bansleben, and Marianna Prjevalskaya. She studied creative writing and playwriting under award-winning authors Susan Letzler Cole and Sarah Harris Wallman.She has collaborated with artists from Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera, jazz legend John D’earth, and two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin—most recently performing at Carnegie Hall with Distinguished Concerts International. In 2025, she was featured as the piano soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 with the Albemarle Symphony. Katherine’s work with Charlottesville Ballet includes Dancing Through the Looking Glass, RBG, and Sorrowful Songs. Her recent projects span symphonic collaborations, original ballet scores, and indie releases. Storytelling is part of Katherine's creative process when composing for a wedding. She loves to meet with the couple and create mashups at the piano to fit their unique love story - they deserve to feel like they have a movie soundtrack!