A child prodigy, Nurock grew up in Trenton, N.J. He was honored at age 16 with the first annual Duke Ellington Scholarship to the Eastman School of Music (Summer Arrangers' Lab). He was selected for the award by both Ellington and Strayhorn and presented the award by Ellington himself. Nurock now holds a Master's degree in Composition from the Juilliard School, where his teachers were Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions. Additional studies in jazz arranging/composition were with Johnny Richards, Rayburn Wright, and the recently-departed Manny Albam.
‘My gratitude to these inspired teachers for their wisdom and generosity. May I always pass it on humbly, with their voices in my ear.’ -KN
In
1993 Nurock was appointed Professor in Jazz Composition at the Hochschule
der Künste in Berlin. In Europe he performed, recorded and toured extensively
as pianist in various groups, and conducted numerous Big Bands in concert.
While there, he developed close collaborations with vocalist Judy Niemack
and guitarist Jeanfrancois Prins, as well as jazz vibist David Friedman.
In NYC again since ‘98, Nurock is proud to have rejoined the Composition
faculty at the New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music Program.
