Indonesian cellist Ade Nicolas (Nico) is a soloist and chamber musician whose musical interests centre on expanding the possibilities of the cello repertoire. With a particular affinity for rarely performed and contemporary works, he is drawn to discovering new musical voices and creating programmes that place familiar and unfamiliar repertoire in dialogue.

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The 2026–27 season features several solo debuts, including appearances with the Rotterdams Studenten Orkest, Bosch Blazers Ensemble and Soli Driehuis Harmonie Orkest. He also returns as a soloist with Brabant Sinfonia and Symfonie Orkest Midden-Holland. Previous solo engagements include performances with Orkest van de Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Collegium Vocale Eindhoven, the STeP Ensemble and Jakarta Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, working with conductors including Joost Smeets, Iswargia Sudarno and Sjoerd Haver.

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In 2026, Nico also joins Jong Metropole as Principal Cellist for the summer–winter season.

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Chamber music forms an important part of Nico’s musical life. He is a member of the Rosin Octet, with whom he has performed throughout Europe, bringing the octet repertoire back into the spotlight while collaborating with contemporary composers such as Harry Sdraulig and Enrico Ferri to expand its repertoire. He is also a member of Zartonk Consort, an ensemble bringing together Armenian musical traditions and contemporary chamber music, and forms Suara Dua with pianist Felita Tanaya, a duo dedicated to rediscovering and showcasing Indonesian classical music that has remained largely hidden from the concert repertoire.

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Alongside his performing career, Nico is committed to classical music education in Indonesia. He teaches and performs regularly when based there and has collaborated with institutions including the Bandung Philharmonic and Jakarta Conservatory of Music, contributing to the development of the next generation of Indonesian musicians.

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Born in Jakarta in 2001, Nico began his musical studies as a pianist at the age of ten before taking up the cello at fourteen. His early cello teachers included Sulistyo Rini, the late Haryo Suyoto and Bryant Gozali. He later continued his studies with Monique Heidema, Joachim Eijlander and Jan-Ype Nota.

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Nico performs on a 2018 cello by Savine Delaporte, generously loaned by Fontys Academy of the Arts, and a 2024 bow by Josephine Tomachot, generously loaned by Het Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds.