Michael Nix performs on classical guitar, Banjar, banjo, and mandolin, throughout the United States and Asia; has recorded for the PBS series “American Experience”, several independent documentaries, numerous CD projects; and his compositions are performed internationally. His music has been heard on “Weekend Edition”, and other NPR programs.His instrumentals, songs, and compositions draw from classic banjo and guitar, early banjo, folk, jazz and world music traditions. In addition to his solo performances, Nix also currently performs with Chris Devine as the Devine-Nix Duo.
A banjo innovator, Michael Nix designed the Banjar, a modern seven nylon string banjo combining elements of the five-string banjo and classical guitar; bringing the classic finger-style banjo of the late 1800's into the twenty-first century. His solo Banjar album of compositions and commissions, Aperçu, was released on PARMA Recordings Big Round Records. Nix designed the Banjar; a modern seven nylon-string banjo combining elements of the five-string banjo and classical guitar.
The New Classic Banjo Project was instituted by Nix to develop and record a modern classical banjo repertoire. Nix’s compositions for 7-string Banjar, the traditional nylon strung five-string classical banjo, the six-string guitar banjo and other banjo hybrids form the core of the New Classic Banjo Project. Nix records, publishes, and performs the new repertoire in festivals, conferences, live and live-streamed concerts.
In 2017 Nix performed his compositions for New Classic Banjo at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. He participated in Seegerfest 2014, and other concerts commemorating the life of Pete Seeger. In 2012 Nix performed American music at the Surin International Folklore Festival in Thailand with the Sorvino Dance Project.
Nix toured as a member of the Monadnock Classical Guitar Duo, and as a soloist he was on the New Hampshire Touring Program for four years from 1979-1983. Throughout the 1980s he was a featured performer for the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society’s Andres Segovia outreach program “The Guitar About Town. In 1988, he performed at the Bushnell Hall in Hartford CT, commemorating a 1931 Andres Segovia performance with Madam Emilita Segovia as the honored guest. Nix was a member of The Moser/Nix Duo, which formed in 1995, performing music and recording for mandolin and guitar. He founded The NixWorks Ensemble in 1999, a flexible chamber ensemble, to explore multiple creative influences and genres. Nix formed The Pioneer Consort in 2005, with violinist Chris Devine, and cellist Greg Snedeker to play World Chamber Music.
Michael Nix’s concerts have been described as “touching” and “transcendent”:
“Michael Nix takes the listener along on a new voyage with a completely different musical vessel. Listeners will discover a shimmering versatility.” —Ritchie Davis, The Recorder
“… breathtakingly beautiful to hear.” –Peter Mix, “Acoustic Musician” Magazine