Public Speaking

Nick van Bloss is the only acclaimed concert pianist in the world who suffers from severe, non-swearing Tourette Syndrome, a condition that causes him some 70,000 bodily tics per day. However, once he touches a piano, his tics dissipate, a phenomenon that has enhanced his musical ability — as noted by his friend, the late Oliver Sacks, who wrote a chapter about Nick in his book Musicophilia.

Nick’s message resonates on many levels. His story of triumph over adversity, coupled with the life-altering power of music, places him in a unique position to vividly communicate the challenges he has faced personally and professionally. His talks explore how to harness creativity, become more creative musicians, and develop creative approaches in life, using his own journey as a guide. The story carries a message of persistence, succeeding against all odds, and ultimately, self-acceptance.

In the BBC television documentary Horizon, Nick further explored these themes as he interviewed several people with differing neurological conditions who are helped, and also inspired, by creative endeavors.

Nick has been featured as a guest speaker in multiple countries and at many distinguished institutions, including UCLA, Yale, the Royal College of Music, Miami International Festival, Governor’s School of Virginia, Stockholm, Tokyo, and numerous music festivals.

Interviews with Nick about his life and insights into creativity have appeared in leading international media, including The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Observer, Telegraph on Sunday, Daily Mail, Miami Herald, BBC World Service, BBC News, ORF Austria, Good Morning America, CBS News, NPR, Swedish Radio, and multiple music-industry publications.