Who is Nicholas Buc?
Arranger. Conductor. Husband. Traveller.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Hardly a week goes by where I don’t mention to my wife that I’d like to try a different kind of job for a day. For some reason, I have this strange fixation on wanting to try jobs that are so far away from my musical world that it intrigues me. Here’s my list of “jobs I’d love to do for a day” (in no particular order):
- Airline baggage handler (aren’t you curious what goes on back there?)
- Postman (how do they sort the letters in that little bag they have… is it arranged by street?)
- Landscape gardener (I’ve kind of tried this one at home, but I’d love a BIG project!)
- Head Chef at a busy fancy restaurant (to see if I can handle the pressure)
- Pilot (like, is it hands on the wheel for 14 hours across the Pacific, or are they doing sudoku?)
Who inspires you and why?
Passionate, happy people who love what they do. I don’t care what industry or part of the world they come from, I genuinely love and admire people doing the things that make them happiest. It’s infectious and I think there is so much to learn from just soaking up that positive energy and channelling it into my own life.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Get more young people involved in music. I used to teach music at both primary and secondary schools and could see first hand how transformative it could be at times.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I love big cities and never tire of walking around that stunning place.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
If I have a morning, then ANY local Melbourne cafe just to show them what real coffee tastes like. If I have a day, a drive out to the Yarra Valley for wine and lunch.
What are you currently reading?
September in the Rain – a biography of Nelson Riddle, an incredible arranger who wrote charts for Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt among others. For a man who wrote some of the most beautifully stunning orchestral arrangements I’ve ever heard, he was a miserable sod who hardly ever smiled. Go figure. But gosh, the way he put those dots on the page… just incredible!
What are you currently listening to?
I’ve been swapping between podcasts about the US election, and the lesser-known classical compositions of Antonio Carlos Jobim (of The Girl From Ipanema fame). Guess which one makes me more content…
Happiness is?
A state of mind. And right now… my life. I’m extremely blessed. I love what I do, whether it’s making music with others, writing it on my own, travelling the world with my wife next to me, or staying at home and mowing the lawn. I’m just an internally happy little sod. Maybe I’m the polar opposite of Nelson Riddle… I just wish I could write like him.
What does the future hold for you?
I have some exciting projects coming up that I’m really looking forward to. The Vancouver Symphony is giving the North American premiere of a new children’s concert that I created with my wife, called Daughter of the Inner Stars. And I’ll be making my debut with the Chicago Symphony next year which is one of the greatest orchestras in the world.
Nicholas is the Host and Conductor of Cinematic – which will be presented by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in the Concert Hall – QPAC, Brisbane, on Friday 22 & Saturday 23 November 2024. For more information, visit: www.qso.com.au for details.
Image: Nicholas Buc (supplied)