In Memoriam

It was common to walk into CELEB and revel in the sounds of Ian preparing for an upcoming concert, teaching piano lessons, or accompanying a vocalist. On July 25, 2024, the air fell silent with Ian’s unexpected passing. We mourn the loss of our friend, dedicated educator, talented musician, and tireless mentor. To know Ian was to have a champion in your corner, and it is this camaraderie that students, staff, faculty, and community members alike will miss most of all.

Despite his 2019 “retirement” from a 37-year career at Beloit, Ian generously lent his talents and expertise to the up-and-coming musical entrepreneurs whose interests ran from classical to jazz to hip hop.

In addition to being an expert self-taught music technician, Nie was also a pianist, music theorist, jack-of-all-musical trades, and teacher with a legacy of positively impacting and inspiring his students.

In addition to founding Maple Tree Studio at CELEB in 2003, Ian’s role at Beloit College included teaching private piano students, accompanying, and teaching classes in music theory and music technology.

Born in China, Ian Nie immigrated with his family to the USA during the late 1960’s. A pianist trained mostly in the US and Italy, Ian performed extensively in the Southern Wisconsin area as well as in Italy. He made several radio broadcasts in Switzerland for the Rai-Svizzera and on Wisconsin Public Radio-Music at The Chazen.

As an accompanist, Ian performed with cellist Jian Wang, a protégé of Isaac Stern,as well as with Dr. Kenneth Greene, violist and former Chair of the Beloit College Music Department. Ian has performed piano concertos by Ravel, Beethoven and Mozart with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony and Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra (the latter was founded by Ian).