Nick Semenykhin
Course Instructor (Jazz Guitar)
鈥淎 talented guitarist and a terrific composer" - Rory Stuart
"Nick is a guitarist and composer of superb qualification. He plays with assurance, precision, and lyricism" - Armen Donelian
"This group was one of the most compelling and professional groups with strong original compositions" - Reggie Workman, comments on Nick鈥檚 senior recital
鈥淥ne of the most all-around developed musicians that I鈥檝e ever met鈥� - Richard Boukas
Nick Semenykhin is a guitarist, composer, and educator who is based in Montreal. He鈥檚 actively participating in the scene and performing with some of the finest musicians as well as leading his own groups.
Nick was born and raised in Ukraine. He intertwined his life with music early on by starting singing and playing classical piano when he was 4. At the age of 13, Nick started taking classical guitar lessons, switching to electric when he was 17. He moved to New York in 2015 after getting admitted to The New School and being a recipient of a full scholarship. Nick graduated from The New School with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Fine Arts with honours in May 2019.
In New York, he has had the opportunity to be mentored by and play with remarkable artists like Vic Juris, Peter Bernstein, Hal Galper, David Glasser, Victor Jones, Kim Clarke, Michel Donato, Adam Klipple, Ed Cherry, Jonathan Kreisberg, Aaron Goldberg, Buster Williams, Richard Boukas, and others. He also had a chance to perform at some of the finest venues in NYC and in the US, leading his own band or being a sideman: Minton鈥檚 Playhouse, Bar 55, Zinc Bar, Twins Jazz Club (Washington D.C.), Nighttown (Cleveland, OH), and many others. Nick also performed with Hattie Simon鈥檚 Group at the Bern Jazz Festival in 2018.
Nick released an EP entitled 鈥淧eacocks鈥� in August 2019 and another EP called 鈥淪et Sail鈥� with Solane Sancho featuring Michel Donato in February 2020.
In 2021, Nick moved to Montreal to continue his studies at 涩里番. Since then, he has performed at Di猫se Onze, Upstairs, Soci茅t茅 Jazz de St. Henry, Place-des-arts (Cinqui猫me salle and Wilfrid-Pelletier salle), Nouveau Th茅芒tre Exp茅rimental, Montreal Jazz Festival, Realto Theatre, and many other venues. He also led his groups to play at the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival in September 2023, Festival de Jazz Qu茅bec en Juin, and Festival de jazz de Mont-Tremblant in 2024, along with other venues across Qu茅bec and Ontario.
In Montreal, he had a chance to perform with the following artists: Jean-Michel Pilc, Rich Irwin, Jim Doxas, Christine Jensen, Bryn Roberts, R茅mi Bolduc, Ira Coleman, Andr茅 White, Robbie Custer, Morgan Moore, and more.
In April 2024, he became a signed artist with OddSound label and released his first album as a leader called 鈥淧aradigm鈥� on April 19th, 2024. The album has received a warm welcome from the critics and the public.
鈥淭he quality of execution and listening between the musicians makes this product eminently seductive. Very good jazz, offering exactly what an aficionado of the grand style expects from a fine evening at Di猫se Onze or Upstairs鈥� - Fr茅d茅rick Cardin, PAN M 360
鈥淧our ce Paradigm, 芦 toute est dans toutte 禄 comme le dirait si bien Raoul Duguay鈥�. -聽Christophe Rodriguez, Sortie Jazz Nights
In 2025, Nick became a part of Le Bolduc Groove Quintet (a new project by R茅mi Bolduc with Chantel De Villiers on tenor, Ira Coleman on bass, and Rich Irwin on drums). Its self-titled album was released in April 2026.
Nick also joined Lucas Dubovik鈥檚 Quartet (Lucas Dubovik - tenor saxophone, Levi Dover - bass, Jacob Wutzke - drums) with an album titled Doob鈥檚 Day Off released in April 2026. He also finished recording a new album of 脡tienne Labelle鈥檚 group at Mixart studio in April 2026.
In Spring 2026, Nick had a chance to join the Canadian leg of the tour of Hollywood Film Orchestra playing music to famous films in Toronto, London (ON), Montreal, and Qu茅bec. He later was a part of La La Land performances in Eastern Canada directed by Justin Hurwitz.
Currently, Nick leads his new trio with Levi Dover on bass and Rich Irwin on drums and is preparing for the recording of his new album.
