Nicole Pesce - Pianist

Nicole's Biography: 

Nicole has performed for Muhammad Ali, Ricky Martin, George Bush, Sr., Waylon Jennings, Taylor Hicks, George Benson, Janet Napolitano, Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, Steve Nash, The Gypsy Kings, Rose Mofford, Glen Campbell, Margaret Cho, Katy Hobbs, Kate Gallego, and Brian Setzer. She’s appeared with American Idol contestant David Hernandez, The Moscow Ballet, Zowie Bowie, and has accompanied The Cast of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, and Mamma Mia on Broadway. 

In 2024, Nicole became an artist in residence for the Scottsdale Philharmonic, performing the “Warsaw Concerto” with the orchestra. Later that summer, Nicole performed at “Crooners” supper club in Minnesota with We3, and the “Hot Jazz Jubilee” festival  in Sacramento, CA - with renowned boogie woogie artists Brian Holland and Caroline Dahl. 2024 concluded with a holiday show at the KERR Cultural Center in Scottsdale, AZ with We3, and an appearance at the Vista Performing Arts Center with former American Idol Contestant Aubrey Logan. 

Currently, Nicole presents “virtual” piano concerts to folks all over the world, actively composes songs, and offers several Master Classes for Arizona Music Fest’s Educational programs: including “Women in Jazz”, “The Great American Songbook”, “Forgotten Composers” and more.

During the Spring/Fall/Winter season, Nicole enjoys a full-time schedule performing as the headlining jazz pianist at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, AZ, ...along with sold out concerts all over the valley at the MIM, the Sundial, Chandler Center for the Arts, The Nash and more! 

Planning for 2025 is already under way: Accompanying Francine Reed at the NASH, Appearing with The Fabulous Five for AZ Music Fest, and headlining two shows on Valentine’s day at Arizona Broadway Theater. 

**Read on about the early beginnings.....

At the age of 7, Nicole began playing piano; by age 10, over 500 songs were committed to memory, and she won First place in the Discovery National Television Competition. at 12, she appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon which aired to over sixty million viewers; followed by an extensive US tour. During a year-long residency in Las Vegas, Nicole performed for Debbie Reynolds on stage at Debbie’s hotel and Casino. Numerous performances followed for Rich Little, Buddy Greco, Pat Boone, Lew King and Barbara Stanwyck. 

Nicole has appeared on Phoenix’s prime time news, television, and radio stations, including Fox 10 News with Rico D’Amico & Cory McCloskey, Good Morning Arizona, In Your Life, Sonoran Living, The Pat McMahon Show, Arts on the Town - AM 1480, and Channel 3 News. Magazine and newspaper articles include Phoenix Magazine, The AZ Republic, The New Times, Phoenix Downtown Magazine and West Valley Living. Nicole was featured on AZTV’s daily mix series in 2019. 

As a composer with a catalog of over 300 songs, Nicole was commissioned to write the title track to the compilation CD “Amada” – dedicated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Following the CD release, Nicole’s original music was featured in a documentary film for the Komen foundation presented at the Pink Tie Gala in Tampa, Florida. Nicole recently composed and recorded original music for the “Beams” singer/songwriter series at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Arizona Foothills Magazine honored Nicole with the “Best of 2014 Award” for Best Local Band/Musician. With a repertoire consisting of over 12,000 memorized songs; Nicole is often dubbed “the human iPod” and is recognized as one of the “top ten musicians to hear in Phoenix” by the Arizona Republic. 

For over a decade, Nicole was the headlining pianist at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix where she regularly entertained fans with everything from Bach to Lady Gaga. Previous performance venues include: The Orpheum Theater, Tempe Center for the Arts, Herberger Theater, Desert Ridge Marriott, Soundbites in Sedona, The Royal Palms, Phoenician Resort, Fairmont Princess Hotel, Eisendrath House in Tempe, Biltmore Resort, Wickenburg Community Center, and the Shemer Arts Center. 

In 2016, The “We3” trio was formed consisting of vocalist Renee Patrick and violinist Suzanne Lansford. The ensemble (along with guest drummer Sheila Earley) began performing sold out shows everywhere from the MIM to the Chandler Center for the Arts and “We3” was featured on AZTV’s daily mix TV series hosted by Pat McMahon.

During the Summer of 2018, Nicole and We3 made their Chicago debut, playing at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Marie’s Club, and Serbian Village. In 2019, We3 traveled to Europe and performed at various Parisian jazz clubs including Duc Des Lombards, Le Baiser Salé and La Chope Champerret. The tour concluded with a special visit and impromptu performance by Nicole and Renee at the prestigious Fazioli Piano Factory and Concert Hall in Sacile, Italy.

For much of 2020, 2021 and 2022, Nicole and We3 premiered “Live-streaming” virtual concerts that included tributes to composers like Henry Mancini and Frederic Chopin. Nicole – along with the “Sensational 7”, became one of the first artists to open Phoenix Theatre’s outdoor stage with a two-week run of “Happy Birthday Dionne!” (A tribute to legendary vocalist Dionne Warwick featuring the music of Burt Bacharach.)

In February of 2023, Nicole appeared as a featured headliner for Arizona Music Fest’s premiere concert series, presenting “Isn’t It Romantic – A Swingin’ Valentine’s Day” show. The performance featured Nicole alongside the acclaimed international piano duo of Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi. Nicole’s “2-pianos, 6-hands” concert is one of AZ Music Fest’s premiere concerts: During the spring of 2023, Nicole performed for the Fresno Sounds of Mardi Gras Festival, AZ Classic Jazz Festival, and the International Jazz Festival at the Mesa Arts Center. 

Future endeavors include more extensive recording and composing, and who knows? ...the summer seasons are wide open for national and international performances. Be sure to stay tuned and visit www.nicolepesce.com for updates! 

**Read on for Testimonials.....

Testimonials: 

“Jaw Dropping. A dazzling piano genius.” – Stacy Sullivan – azcentral.com

“One of the top 10 musicians in the valley.” – The AZ Republic


“A one-woman piano phenomenon.” – Kenneth LaFave – LeFave On The Arts 

“Phoenix’s best new keyboard Queen” – The AZ Republic 

“I enjoy the amazing tinkling of the ivories by pianist Nicole Pesce” – David Liebowitz - Channel 3 News

“She’s like a Human iPod” – Phoenix Magazine

“Nicole Pesce makes a lot of stuff sound cool!!” – Robert Pela – The New Times 

“[Nicole is] ...Arizona’s Premier Pianist....a master of the keyboard, leaving no keys untouched, never looking at a piece of music, and making it all seem completely off the cuff.”  -  Lynn Timmons Edwards – Cabaret Scenes – July 2020 

“Pesce’s frenetic solo rendition of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue” is mesmerizing and breathtaking.”  - Joe Gruberman – Splash Magazine  

9-27-20