About

Nik began studying percussion at the age of 5 when he joined the 100 Drummers community project; studying Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian percussion. Here he Discovered a passion for percussion instruments from around the world, prompting the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of studying instruments and techniques from various cultures around the world; Indian tabla and dhol drums, Indonesian gamelan, Iranian santoor, Flamenco cajon, classical tuned percussion, drum kit, and the music of his Greek heritage. This gifted him a unique approach to music and a versatility that is evident in his work as a performer and composer.

Nik trained as a stilt performer with Friches Theatre Urbain (FR), before going on to work with Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International (UK) as a stilt walker and street theatre performer.

Nik specialises in teaching Afro-Brazilian percussion to groups of all ages and ability levels. His sessions comprise primarily of original music inspired by the Brazilian carnival tradition and the music of Candomblé. He has led groups in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, China, and Brazil.

In 2017, Nik travelled to Brazil with Jack Drum Arts to take part in carnival in Pernambuco with the renowned Maracatu group Naçao Porto Rico, who were crowned carnival champions that year. In 2020 he organised a cultural exchange between DrumDin and carnival groups in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Working in partnership with Belgian percussion group "Afrokata", Nik led a multi-national group of percussionists from the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Brazil, and Colombia as they performed during carnival in Pelourinho. They also studied with various masters including Mestre Mario Pam (Ilê Aiyê), Mestre Eden Gordo (Cortejo Afro), and Mestre Mario (Muzenza do Reggae), featured on Bahia state TV with the Tambores do Mundo project, and paraded with Bloco Afro Muzenza do Reggae, one of the oldest and most respected blocos in Bahia, on the main carnival circuit in Salvador.

In 2024, Nik co-produced the Ipadê Ilû UK event, bringing Mestre Memeu of Olodum to teach in the UK for the first time. The event welcomed 70 drummers from the around the UK, Slovakia and Canada to study and perform together with Mestre Memeu and Brazilian singer Sandoval Melodia.

Nik has also worked with community theatre projects, facilitating the composition of original music as live accompaniment to theatre and dance. He worked as musical director of Mongrel UK,in partnership with Sage Gateshead and North of England Refugee Service, composing the scores for several of their productions and facilitating the creation of original music by the project participants. He has also composed music for TheatreTrain in London, which was performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of their production "Voices For a Better World".