Nicolas Gachot is a drummer and composer based in Los Angeles. Growing up in a musical family, he was exposed to a wide range of styles by his parents—from classical music to jazz, Brazilian music, pop, and rock. He began taking piano lessons at the age of six and classical percussion lessons at nine. Early in his musical development, he performed in several symphony and chamber orchestras as a classical percussionist and timpanist.
Inspired by masters such as Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson, his passion for jazz became increasingly central, leading him to perform more frequently in big bands and jazz combos. In 2023, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Drums Performance from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where he studied with Gerry Hemingway, Norbert Pfammatter, Marc Halbheer, Dominik Burkhalter, Jean-Paul Brodbeck, Kristin Berardi, Nathanael Su, and Nils Wogram.
He continued his studies at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Los Angeles, where he was awarded a scholarship and completed his Master of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Drums in 2025. The CalArts jazz program, founded by bassist Charlie Haden and pianist David Roitstein, allowed him to be mentored by internationally acclaimed musicians such as Jonathan Pinson, Steve Lehman, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Vardan Ovsepian, Edwin Livingston, Vinny Golia, and Cathlene Pineda.
Nicolas is an active part of the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, performing at the city’s central venues such as Sam First, The Mint, and the Rhythm Room.