Nick Woud studied Timpani and Percussion at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music with Jan Labordus and Jan Pustjens, both of the Royal Concertgebouw. From the age of 18 he performed as timpanist and percussionist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra and in all major Dutch orchestras. At the age of 22 he joined the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, first as percussionist and in 1984 as Principal Timpanist. In May 2002 Nick Woud won the RCO auditions unanimously and joined the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. In July 2022 Nick retired from the RCO after 20 years and is now playing all over the world as guestplayer.
Brought up in the Amsterdam School of Timpani, Nick has always used drums with calfheads and a setup in the Dutch/German way. Nick is one of the pioneers of baroque timpani playing, starting in 1975 with the early Bach recordings under Gustav Leonhardt,
As a tutor Nick taught at the Hilversum and Utrecht Conservatory of Music. For the last 35years he has been Senior Tutor for timpani at the Percussion department of the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. He published 3 timpani methods, a book with xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel performance pieces and as composer a substantial number of works for orchestra, brass instruments in various settings and for timpani and percussion.
His interest in the technical side of the timpani resulted in a long term relationship with Adams Timpani as advisor [since 1977]. The development of Adams timpani have been made in close contact with Nick as a performing consultant. From the start of this relationship all types of Adams drums have been tested and experimented with in their rightful place: the large Symphony Orchestra and played upon by a professional in the many large concert halls of The Netherlands as well as being recorded for Radio and CD. The last project was the development of the Adams Schnellar timpani.
For many years Nick Woud coached the percussion sections of the Dutch National Youth Orchestra, the NJO Summer Academy,the EUYO and the Jonde (Spanish National Youth Orchestra). Nick woud gives regurarly masterclasses in many countries worldwide.
My family: I have a wonderful wife and and two strong sons.
NICK WOUD 