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Donald Nicolson undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, the Netherlands studying under Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot, focussing especially on the interpretation of the sixteenth-century English virginal music and the keyboard music of seventeenth-century France.

Now a Melbourne-based harpsichordist, organist and pianist, Donald leads an active career in performance and research of the music of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe, continuing to work on both sides of the Tasman as keyboardist for the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has directed numerous performances from the harpsichord including the Melbourne Symphony and Australian Chamber Orchestras, as well as teaching baroque practice at the University of Melbourne.

Currently Donald recently completed his PhD (Musicology and Performance) at the University of Melbourne investigating societal, rhetorical and reflexive elements in the performance of the Unmeasured Preludes of Louis Couperin.

Donald is co-founder of Melbourne baroque trio, Latitude 37. The ensemble performs frequently at the Melbourne Recital Centre, various other venues in Victoria, and toured New Zealand twice with Chamber Music New Zealand. The ensemble’s three CDs released by ABC Classics have received critical acclamation.

Donald is also a key member of Melbourne-based Anja & Zlatna, an ensemble which examines the folk music of the Balkans and infuses it with the improvisational practices of the Baroque.  Their two albums Ruse Kose and Oj, Vesela Veselice! have been well received by audiences and critics alike.

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