Nick Riley

Nick Riley (b. 1989) has been active in the pageantry arts as a performer, composer/arranger, educator, ensemble administrator, and judge since 2003. 

 

Currently, Nick is pursuing his Master of Arts degree in Music Education at The Ohio State University.  As a Graduate Teaching Associate for the School of Music, Nick is responsible for supervising student teachers and conducting music education research.  Prior to pursuing his graduate studies full-time, Nick was the Director of Bands for Liberty Center Local Schools in rural northwest Ohio from 2012 to 2021.  While at Liberty Center, Nick doubled the enrollment of the school district's band program and his concert, marching, and chamber ensembles were noted for their performance excellence.  Nick earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Capital University in 2011.  Some of Nick's notable former teachers include: James Swearingen, Bob Breithaupt, Dr. Barry E. Kopetz, Tony Zilincik, Dr. Dina Lentsner, Eric Paton, Nate Anders, Wayne Markworth, Andrew Markworth, Ross Williams, Allen Justus, Jim Leslie, and Tim Fairbanks.

 

In the winter months, Nick is heavily involved in the indoor percussion activity as a composer/arranger, educator, and ensemble administrator for numerous groups nationwide.  Nick founded ConneXus, a PIW indoor percussion ensemble, in 2012 and currently serves as Ensemble Director, Program Coordinator, Front Ensemble Technician, and President of the ConneXus Performing Arts Association, Inc. Board of Directors.  ConneXus is a 4-time WGI World Championships Finalist and a 4-time WGI Regional Champion. 

 

Nick is the founder of the web-based pageantry arts music design business NPR Marching Concepts where has composed nearly 600 works for over 60 ensembles since beginning his writing career in 2007. A prolific composer for marching bands, indoor percussion ensembles, drum corps, and winter winds, Nick’s compositions can be heard across the United States and South America. In addition to publishing his own work, Nick’s compositions for indoor percussion are published by Gary P. Gilroy Publications and Marching Show Concepts.

 

Nick is an accomplished adjudicator for the pageantry arts, judging actively for the Central States Judges Association since 2013 and the Ohio Music Education Association since 2012. Specializing in music general effect, music performance, and percussion performance, he has judged in seven states and has been included on local and championship-level adjudication panels. He has been selected to adjudicate the Mid-States Band Association Circuit Championships annually since 2017.

 

Nick’s previous staff assignments reflect a diverse background in the pageantry arts. He has served as the Assistant Visual Supervisor for Legends Drum & Bugle Corps (2011-2013), a Percussion Consultant for The Ohio State University Marching Band (2011-2014), Front Ensemble Instructor for Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps (2014), and Visual Technician for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps (2016). Nick is currently the Percussion Composer/Arranger for the Gran Banda Drum & Bugle Corps of Medellin, Colombia, South America, where he has served on both the percussion and visual staffs since 2014. The “GB” is the 2014 DCI SoundSport Champion, runner up in 2017, and the first ensemble from South America to perform in DCI events.

 

Nick is a member of OMEA, CSJA, PFCJ, NAfME, and PAS. Nick holds endorsements from Vic Firth and Black Swamp Percussion.

 

A native of Centerville, Ohio, Nick currently lives in Columbus, Ohio.