Nick Sutcliffe
Nick Sutcliffe (born c. 1986) is an English music producer and conductor, former professional squash player and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas.
Early life and education
Sutcliffe was born in Steeton, West Yorkshire. He studied at Leeds Grammar School, then St John's College, Cambridge, where he was president of the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra, served as a MusicAL director for several productions, and earned four Full Blues representing the university squash team against University of Oxford.
Music
As a student at Cambridge, Sutcliffe was ACTIVE as a musical director and producer, including work with the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra and several musical theatre productions staged at the ADC Theatre. During this period, he wrote and produced music for dramatic productions written by Will SharpE, then president of Cambridge Footlights, and later contributed original music to his BAFTA-nominated feature film Black Pond.
Sutcliffe later founded Ensemble BPM, a contemporary music and multimedia ensemble. He conducted the ensemble's production of Steve Reich and Beryl Korot’s video opera Three Tales at the IMAX Theatre Science Museum, London in 2015, following an earlier presentation at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival. This production featured several of the musicians involved in the official 2002 UK premiere, including Synergy Vocals, and was the first opera to be performed in an IMAX theatre globally. It was awarded 4 stars by David Cheal, reviewing for the Financial Times.
Sutcliffe later directed Ensemble BPM's staging of Louis Andriessen’s video opera Anaïs Nin at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival, with Phoebe Haines in the title role.
Sport
Sutcliffe competed on the Professional Squash Association tour, reaching a career-high world ranking of 252. He earned four Full Blues while representing Cambridge University in the Varsity Match against University of Oxford. Sutcliffe later represented England, playing No. 1 on the Masters team in 2022 against Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Sutcliffe founded and managed the Coolhurst London Premier League Squash team, taking it to playoff finals in its second season.
Nonprofit work
Sutcliffe led Mission Squash, a Texas-based nonprofit that combines college access programming with academic support and athletic training. He served as its executive director.
Business
Sutcliffe is the founder and chief executive of Rush, a racquet sport and social club under development in Austin, Texas. The project includes courts, hospitality venues, and trails across a multi-acre site. Pre-launch memberships sold out ahead of the planned grand opening in late 2026.
Personal life
Sutcliffe lives in Austin, Texas. His great-grandfather, Wilson Sutcliffe, served as the 20th Mayor of Bradford, England (1875–76).