Nicole M. Santos

Nicole M. Santos is a collaborative pianist, violinist, organist, and composer based in Vermillion, SD. She holds Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from the University of South Dakota. During her graduate studies, she collaborated with vocal and instrumental colleagues at USD, as well as served as an accompanist for the USD Symphonic Choir, and Choral Conducting classes. Additionally, she has been the rehearsal and pit pianist and assistant music director for three of the University of South Dakota’s mainstage opera productions. Most recently, Ms. Santos received the University of South Dakota Department of Music’s 2024-2025 Graduate Leadership Award. As the winner of the 2024-2025 USD Composition Competition, her orchestral work 'requiem' was premiered by the USD Symphony Orchestra in February 2025. In December 2024, she was a Pianist-Intern for Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot at the Music On Site, Inc. opera program in Wichita, KS, and she participated in the MNDuo program during the 2024 SourceSong Festival. Ms. Santos will join the staff of the University of South Dakota Department of Music as a Collaborative Pianist and Adjunct Instructor in August 2025.