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, and this has been a blessing in enhancing his musical ability, as cited by his friend, the late Oliver Sacks, who wrote a chapter of his book Musicophilia about Nick. 

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 both personally and professionally. His 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 fuelled by, creative endeavours. 

Nick has been featured as guest speaker in multiple countries and in many different institutions, including, UCLA, Yale, Royal College of Music, Miami International Festival, Stockholm, Tokyo, and many music festivals.

Written and spoken interviews with Nick about his life have been featured in 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 magazines.