Nicole Presentey is an Ottawa native and while she is certainly one of the most talented pianists and music educators to come from this place, she has remained in the region even though the world beckons.

One of her deep local connections as a supporter and as a performer is Ottawa Chamberfest, one of the city’s best known classical music festivals. 

Capital Current sat down with Presentey to talk about her musical background and her involvement with Chamberfest just ahead of her performance on July 30 with another local piano star John Dapaah.

The four-hands piano duet will feature music from Mozart to Lady Gaga performed with her former student.

Dapaah studied with Presentey at Carleton University in the early 2010s. She said the pair has a unique connection which allows them to play in sync so well. 

“He has a capacity to reach an audience with a real directness, and no artifice, and I love playing with him. He’s one of the few players that I can work with where I can close my eyes and I can know what we’re going to do next. We’re always together.”

She attributes this to their sensitivity to each other’s breathing and pulse.

“That’s the beautiful thing about playing chamber music. To get to that level where you can communicate without words.”

I feel that it’s my job to give musicians the keys to express themselves. Everybody has something to offer, something to say that’s meaningful, but not everybody has the tools or confidence or support to do it.

Nicole Presentey

Presentey started playing piano at age three, when her parents bought a piano for her older sister who wasn’t interested. Young Nicole started lessons at four and progressed quickly. 

Nicole is blessed with natural perfect pitch, a talent that her parents, who were both very musical, quickly noticed. 

“My parents used to have me do party tricks. … They’d hide me in a closet somewhere far away from the piano when they had friends over and then they’d play notes and I’d have to identify them.”

Presentey described the moment that she knew music would be her career. Her father took her to hear Emil Gilels’ concert in Ottawa when she was five years old. Dad took her backstage to meet Gilels, and the rest was history. 

“I remember that he held my hand, and I don’t know if he transferred something to me, but it was a thrill.”

She studied at the Rideau Street Convent with the sisters whom she described as “some of the most dedicated educators that we had in music.”

As well, Presentey went to Toronto once a month for lessons with a master teacher. These sessions evolved into weekly flights. 

Presentey continued her musical studies with a bachelor of music at the Vincent d’Indy School in Montreal at age 15, specializing in piano performance, then graduate studies at the Université de Montréal. 

She went on to study in England and performed in several European countries, 

Presentey also trained with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra — which she says has been a huge inspiration. 

“I love the whole ethos of getting into the composer’s intentions, and the authenticity of the instruments that are used, the technique used to recreate that music,” Presentey said about her experience.

Although Presentey mostly plays piano, she also can handle the harpsichord, cello, bass and tenor recorders. Some of her musical inspirations are Martha Argerich and Christian Zimmerman. 

Now, Presentey is a chamber music ensemble director and classical piano performance instructor at Carleton.

Presentey has been involved with Chamberfest for about 15 years. For her, music is not just about performing. It’s about sharing the art with a new generation of musicians. Chamberfest gave her the opportunity to do so. 

She was good friends with Harvey and the late Louise Glatt, who were involved with the board of Chamberfest from the beginning. 

The couple was hosting a board meeting when they asked Presentey if she had any exceptional students who would like to perform. At the time, Nicole was teaching chamber music to children, a few of whom she recommended to perform at the festival. The show was a huge hit. 

“They just about brought the place down,” Presentey said. 

And thus the Rising Stars showcase was born in 2007. This annual Chamberfest series continues to showcase the best young talent in the National Capital Region. 

This year’s Rising Stars showcase will be held July 29 at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. 

Presentey described her teaching philosophy as one based on kindness and support. 

“I feel that it’s my job to give musicians the keys to express themselves. Everybody has something to offer, something to say that’s meaningful, but not everybody has the tools or confidence or support to do it,” said Presentey. 

Presentey’s musical career was disrupted in 1983 when her father suddenly passed and she took on the management of his engineering company. She continued to do so for the next 33 years, until 2017.

She credits her musical discipline for being able to manage the company.

Contrary to what some might think, musical training is more than just repeating scales. Her practice routine begins with mediation in the morning, then strength training such as core and arm exercises. In the evening, she does cardio and lower body strength training. 

Presentey explained the importance of connecting even the smallest joints in your fingers to your brain individually, so that the mind and body can work together seamlessly when playing music. 

“Your whole body is involved in doing an art like this. It’s not just your hands.”

Presentey never lost her passion for music. During the pandemic, Presentey formed the Oxbow Piano trio with David Thies-Thompson on violin and Leah Wyber on cello, both members of the NAC orchestra and with whom Presentey shares a deep bond. 

To communicate with people through music is an almost out-of-body experience. It’s a very fulfilling way to communicate, it’s very deep.

Nicole Presentey

The trio continues to perform at more concerts and festivals in the future. 

Presentey said the depth and beauty of performing chamber music with others is unlike anything else. 

“To communicate with people through music is an almost out-of-body experience. It’s a very fulfilling way to communicate, it’s very deep.”

“It is a privilege to share my knowledge and experience with artistic organizations such as Chamberfest that I believe develop deep cultural connections within our community and in so doing, educate, elevate and entertain through diverse and exciting musical experiences.”
A variety of Chamberfest ticket options are available from a full festival pass down to individual shows.

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