Nick Molenda studied music at the University of Washington in Seattle and has been performing & educating for over 20 years.

As a performer, Nick spent years fine-tuning a wide array of genres behind the drum kit, holding the drum chair with such artists & bands as HARPS, Megan Wilde, Headwaves, Allen Stone, Brett Hite (of FRENSHIP) Tess Henley, Seattle Rock Orchestra, & Discs of Fury. Nick has toured extensively, performing at venues of all sizes. Presently, Nick can be heard performing with alt/indie artist Brittany Danielle. Nick proudly endorses Pearl Drums, Adams Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, & Vic Firth Drumsticks.

As an educator, Nick is well-respected in the northwest music community from a 7-year stint coordinating the University of Washington Husky Drumline. During his time with UW, Nick helped propel the group from regional to national prominence. In 2013, Nick led the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps to their highest percussion scoring on the Drum Corps International tour in several years as Percussion Caption Supervisor. At the high school level, Nick served as front ensemble & sound design supervisor for the award-winning Kamiak High School (Mukilteo, WA) WGI Winter Percussion Ensemble in 2012 and 2013 during their undefeated run in the NWAPA regional competition circuit. Nick has also been involved with both the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline & Seattle Sounders FC Sound Wave Band. These days, Nick maintains engagement teaching privately, consults with various groups, & regularly adjudicates for regional marching band, drumline, and solo & ensemble competitions all over the west coast.

In addition, Nick has built a sizable following of drumming enthusiasts on YouTube, gaining world-wide acclaim from a short series of note-for-note transcription performance videos. Perhaps most remarkable was a shockingly accurate replication of a near 5-minute classic Aaron Spears solo from his performance at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival Weekend of Usher’s hit “Caught Up”. Spears himself lauded the effort via Twitter within hours of the original upload.

Nick resides in Seattle, WA with his wife Bridget and their two kids.