"I was a super shy kid," says Nicky Thurston. "Music allowed me to connect with people."
Music did more than that. It's allowed him to travel, work with his hands, taught him leadership skills, helped him teach others, and let him express himself.
He's a well-rounded musicians, comfortable with intimate sessions or in front of large crowds. In high school, he performed Van Halen's "Eruption" at a talent show.
"I can play at a coffee shop or a music festival," Nicky says.
Art inspires art, he says, and so he's open to lots of creative outlets. On the side, he does web development, and wants to try to learn the French horn. All the while, he plays hundreds of shows a year for free, or for tips.