With over 75 original compositions, Nora Ricci enjoys a wide repertoire. Writing music since the age of six, Ricci said that "it seemed as though life could be no other way."

Since an early age, Ricci has been exposed to several different genres. She payed special attention to each instrument on the songs she heard and began to define her own style.

Born in Washington D.C., Ricci now resides in Winter Park with her two dogs, Ever (a silky terrier) and Cody (a Mastif/Bernard mix).

Ricci explained that her "piano compositions usually float loosely between adult contemporary and jazz. The guitar pieces are usually a bit more percussive, and have a taste of acoustic alternative, southern rock, country and pop."

Ricci studied at the University of Richmond School for the Performing Arts, earned a degree in Philosophy and Poetic Analysis and Composition at Salem College, and studied percussion at Wake Forest. She also studied film writing at the North Carolina School of the Arts and music composition at the University of Siena in Italy.

Ricci explained that "there is an elusive, innate and intangible drive that has been present deep within my being, even as a child." She said "it is almost as if I have no choice in writing and performing music." Ricci also cautioned that if "if I do not regularly write or play music, I become very, very irritable. So it's in every ones best interest that I continue."

Locally, Ricci would "thoroughly enjoy seeing the Orlando music community come together, instead of working against each other, which is what I see beginning to happen." She said that, "perhaps it is not so much the fault of the musicians, but some of the establishments for which we play."

Ricci performs regularly at the Salt Island Chop Shop, Faces on Edgewater and Cricketer's Arms in Orlando. Her full schedule and music clips can be reviewed at her myspace website.