Tenor Nicholas Cotellessa was born in the U.S and now lives in Oslo, Norway where he is a member of the Norwegian National Opera (den Norske Opera). As a soloist, he performs in opera, oratorio and art song in the U.S., Europe and Scandinavia. He recently made his debut in Munich in the 2007-2008 season at the Philharmonie am Gasteig singing the role of Pylades in Ipihigenie auf Tauris with the Bach Collegium München under the direction of Hansjörg Albrecht.

He has sung with: the Komische Oper (Berlin), Oratorienchor Potsdam, Akademisk Korforening (Oslo), Caramoor International Music Festival, Concert Operetta Theater in Philadelphia, Dicapo Opera Theater and New York Cantata Singers, Tanglewood Music Center and Commonwealth Opera in Massachusetts and with New England Light Opera and Danbury Music Center in Connecticut. He has worked with such great conductors as: Seiji Ozawa, Christopher Hogwood, Will Crutchfield, William Christie, Barry Rose (OBE), Craig Smith and Martin Pearlman.

Operatic credits include lead roles in several operas of Mozart, Donizetti and Rossini as well as several principal roles in operettas by Lehar, Strauss and Gilbert and Sullivan. He is a frequent soloist in numerous oratorios, recently singing the Evangelist in Bach's Johannes-Passion in Berlin (Potsdam) under the direction of Matthias Jacob.

He received degrees in music from Indiana University School of Music and Boston University, respectively. He is also an alumnus of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Accademia Musicale LaChigiana in Siena, Italy. Upon completion of his studies he sang for several seasons in opera and oratorio with Boston Baroque and with Handel Haydn Society.

Upcoming engagements for include performances with den Norske Opera and recitals with the Spanish guitarist, Jose Manuel Dapena.