Hello! My name is Nicholas Norris and I am from the Greater Grand Rapids area of West Michigan. Most people refer to me as a 'jack-of-all-trades' because I dabble in just about everything. That being said, I personally identify as a nerdy Francophile and professionally trained classical flutist who has a mild obsession with too many hobbies. My studies in music and my experience with the French language, both domestically and abroad, have not only played an integral role who I am today, but also have led me to live some of my most exciting moments in life. It was through a transformative two-year long séjour en France as a lecteur d'anglais at the Université de Nantes (2016-18) that new life-long friendships began to influence the way in which I see the world today. It was also this time in France that spending my afternoons playing Mozart concerti and Bach sonatas au bord de l'Erdre revealed my true love for both music and the French language and culture.
If you have already checked out what my website has to offer, it is pretty clear that both my experiences studying and living immersed in the musical world and the French language have also had a huge impact on my hobbies. When not playing the flute or writing a paper en français for one of my graduate courses, you will most likely find me in the kitchen baking some goodies or with my cameras taking photos of anything and everything. I also enjoy some quality alone time with a TV series or movie so that I can get creative with a crocheting project, a skill I took up with friends while living in France. When it comes to baking, my reputation amongst my friends as well as within the community is all about my cakes. However, baking bread (kneading dough is very therapeutic!) and recreating all the French pastries I ate during my time in France is what makes me the most happy.
Photography and videography are recent hobby-to-profession careers. Photography first came into my life during my second séjour en France when I began to regularly document my life abroad on social media for family and friends. At the end of 2020, my own photography business, Nico Norris Photography, came to fruition, using my French nickname as a means to pay homage to my home away from home. I enjoy all kinds of photography, but what I especially love is when I can take a step back and capture the special moments, from creatures in their natural habitat to the candid laughter of a loving family. As a videographer, I've enjoyed making short stop-motion animations the most. However, my true passion lies within combining my artistic eye with my experiences as a classical musician to produce videos that capture beautiful performances of solo artists and small ensembles.
At the moment, most of my energy goes into being a PhD student in French Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When I am not fulfilling my duties as Graduate Teaching Assistant or reading and writing for my graduate seminars, I absolutely love researching the life and music of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-George. Since the operatic art form served as a unique political tool for power in 18th Century France, I enjoy examining Saint-George's music through contemporary critiques of his operatic debuts to explore the possible role that race played in concentrating power within the French nobility. It sounds fancy, however the last few years have taught me that being prepared and having a plan can only go so far. I will therefore live life one day at a time and to its absolute fullest because doing so has brought me some of my most cherished life-experiences, and I have faith that continuing to do so will lead me to many more.
If you have any questions about
me and my projects, or would
like to inquire about booking
a photo shoot, please feel free
to contact me by utilizing the
form below. I look forward to
hearing from you!
Best,
Nicholas M. Norris
Send me a message!
