Katherine Nies is a genre-blending pianist, composer, and storyteller whose roots run deep in jazz, classical, and folk traditions. Raised on a mix of her mother’s Peruvian and Puerto Rican folk guitar and her father’s jazz piano, she brings a soulful, improvisational spirit to everything she plays. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Katherine received her classical training under Hsien-Ann Meng, Gerda Bansleben, and Marianna Prjevalskaya. She has collaborated with artists from Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera, jazz legend John D’earth, and two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin—most recently performing at Carnegie Hall with Distinguished Concerts International. In 2025, she was featured as the piano soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 with the Albemarle Symphony. Katherine’s work with Charlottesville Ballet includes Dancing Through the Looking Glass, RBG, and Sorrowful Songs. Her recent projects span symphonic collaborations, original ballet scores, and indie releases including sweet blue, yellow silk, and Storms in My Attic, now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. In addition to performing, Katherine directs theater and choral music and enjoys spending time in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her daughter. She is honored to celebrate 11 years with Charlottesville Ballet. Find her latest projects at linktr.ee/katherinenies.