Ep. 341 Nikka Gershman

Written By PeppTalks JeannePepper

Virtuoso Flutist & Composer Nikka Gershman on Music, Mastery, and Vision

Nikka Gershman is an internationally acclaimed flute soloist, composer, and founder of the Music Society of the Future. Hailed as a "Magic Flutist" and recognized worldwide for her extraordinary musical maturity, she made history as the youngest-ever Kovner Fellow at The Juilliard School. Beyond her virtuosity on stage, Nikka is dedicated to expanding classical music’s reach by performing as a soloist, composing, and arranging complex masterworks that push the boundaries of flute repertoire.

Nikka Gershman and Jeanne Pepper, Los Angeles, July 2026

On a personal note, Nikka is also my cousin—her dad is my first cousin, Evan Pepper—and I have had the absolute joy and privilege of watching her grow up into the extraordinary person and musician she is today. Seeing her dedication unfold from such a young age has made following her remarkable career all the more special.

Nikka’s musical journey gained early momentum when she became the youngest-ever Haynes Young Artist, representing William S. Haynes Flute Company—the oldest flute manufacturer in America. A former student at the Colburn Music Academy under the mentorship of legendary flutist Jim Walker, she has earned some of the classical music world's highest honors. These include the Absolute First Prize at the Concorso Internazionale A Tutto Flauto, Sir James Galway’s “Outstanding Junior Performer” Award, and a YoungArts National Winner with Distinction.

As a concert soloist, Nikka has captivated audiences across the globe in prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Wiener Konzerthaus, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Beethoven House in Bonn. Her dynamic performances have been showcased on major platforms such as NPR’s From the Top, WQXR-FM, and The Violin Channel, cementing her reputation as one of her generation’s most compelling instrumentalists.

In addition to her performance career, Nikka is a pioneering composer whose published works and transcriptions—including Ravel’s La Valse for flute and piano—earned her the distinction of becoming the youngest composer published by Theodore Presser. Driven by a passion for community outreach and artistic advocacy, she utilizes her art to bring classical music beyond traditional concert halls to hospitals, senior centers, and underserved communities, continuing to inspire millions of music lovers worldwide.

🌐 Social Handles & Website Links

🎼 Published Compositions & Major Works

Published by Theodore Presser Company (making Nikka the youngest-ever published composer with the publisher):

  1. When We Used to Dance (Flute & Piano)

  2. La Valse (Flute & Piano transcription of Maurice Ravel's masterwork)

  3. Three Operatic Encores (Flute & Piano arrangements of Verdi, Strauss, and Wagner)

Selected Original Compositions:

  • Echo (2020) – Written for flute and saxophone during the pandemic.

  • Solitude (2020) – Dedicated to Glenn Gould for his 88th birthday.

  • Respiro (2021) – Premiered by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.

  • Memory (2022) – For flute and orchestra, written in tribute to Ukrainian victims.

  • Valse Infernale – 1st Prize Winner, Pacific Musical Society Composition Competition.

  • The Tears of Winter– Awarded the Libby Larsen Composition Prize (IAWM).

  • Tempest – Originally for flute and string orchestra; adapted for flute and piano.

  • Atonement Sonata – For Flute/Piano or Cello/Piano; premiered at Lincoln Center.

  • Through a Glass Darkly – Explores despair and hope.

  • Ansiktet ("The Face") – For flute and orchestra; set for premiere at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

📅 Major Performances (Chronological Order)

  • 2019: Concerto Soloist, Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic, Zipper Hall, The Colburn School (LosAngeles, CA)

  • 2019: Concerto Competition Winner Performance, Whittier Regional Symphony (Whittier, CA)

  • 2021: Grand Prize Virtuoso Winner's Recital, Beethoven House (Bonn, Germany)

  • 2021: World Premiere of her original composition Respiro, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (Los Angeles, CA)

  • 2021:LA Phil Westside Committee Gala & Scholarship Winners' Concert (Pacific Palisades, CA)

  • 2022: Gold Medalists Concert, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Skyview Concert Hall (Vancouver, WA)

  • 2022: Soloist, Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra (Brandenburg Concerto) (Los Angeles, CA)

  • 2022: Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant Winners' Gala Concert, Merkin Hall (New York, NY)

  • 2023: Classicalia Winners' Concert Soloist with the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra, Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna, Austria)

  • 2023:Discovering Debussy collaboration with LA Opera & Colburn Dance Academy, Zipper Hall (Los Angeles, CA)

  • 2023:The Virtuoso Flute, Mason Concert Series (Los Angeles, CA)

  • 2024: Juilliard Station Concert Series, Lincoln Center (New York, NY)

  • 2024: Juilliard Fall Festival Chamber Music Performance (New York, NY)

  • 2025: Premiere of her transcription of La Valse, Sonatenabend Series, Paul Hall at The Juilliard School (New York, NY)

  • 2025: iPalpiti Benefactors Series Solo Recital (New York, NY)

  • 2025:Flute Through the Ages, Sacred Music at St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University (New York, NY)

  • 2026:Music in the Mansion Solo Recital (Beverly Hills National Auditions Winner) (Los Angeles, CA)

  • 2026:Lincoln Center's NEXT250 Composition Premiere (New York, NY)

  • 2027 (Upcoming): World Premiere of Ansiktet for Flute and Orchestra, LA Voices, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Wilshire Ebell Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)

Episode 341

Hosted by: Jeanne Pepper

Guest: Nikka Gershman

Producer: Eli Moskowitz

Executive Producer: Jeanne Pepper

Original Theme Music: Jay Bernstein

Special Thank You to our volunteers

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DISCLAIMER Jeanne Pepper is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Jeanne Pepper unless so stated. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Ms. Pepper’s guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ms. Pepper. If you have any questions about this disclaimer or the content herein, please contact us at Producers@PepptalkswithJeanne.com #PeppTalkswithJeanne #JeannePepper #BlazeitForward

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Ep. 340 Angelique Fawcette