Canyon County Symphony Orchestra

Nick Harker, one of the co-founders of the Canyon County Symphony, is an innovative and flexible conductor with a decade of experience in professional, community, and educational ensemble conducting. He has not only conducted in orchestral settings but also in the opera and ballet pits, as well as recording and film studios. He is the current interim conductor for the College of Idaho Sinfonia and is currently teaching at the prestigious Idaho Arts Charter School. He recently led the Keene State College Chamber Orchestra in New Hampshire and has also held conducting positions with the Salt Lake Symphony, Utah Philharmonic, Utah Philharmonia, West Jordan Symphony, and Evanston Civic Orchestra. He has worked regularly as a clinician and guest conductor with public schools across Idaho, New Hampshire, and Utah. As a violinist, he has performed with the Salt Lake Symphony, Idaho Falls Symphony, West Jordan Symphony, Utah Philharmonic, and others.

Growing up in a musical family, he developed a love of music from an early age. He obtained his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Utah where he studied primarily with Dr. Robert Baldwin, and his Masters in Music in Orchestral Conducting at Brigham Young University, studying under Kory Katseanes and Dr. Don Peterson. As an undergraduate at Brigham Young University-Idaho, he studied violin under Dr. Dallin Hansen and earned an undergraduate degree in music education. Some of his other mentors include Jeffery Meyer, John Nardolillo, Thomas Heuser, Roger Kalia, Mark Gibson, and Kenneth Kiesler.

He is married to his wonderful wife and has two young boys. He also enjoys composing, playing basketball, and skiing.