Nina Leilani Deering

Nov 7th, 1985 - June 11th, 2020

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Nina Leilani Deering was a cosmic force who changed the world forever with her profound spirit, music, poetry and love.

This site has been created posthumously to remember and celebrate the remarkable legacy she left behind.

NO LOVE DYING

In 1985 Kate Bush released her masterpiece record, “Hounds of Love,” and sang the words, “I just know that something good is gonna happen.” Two months later, Nina Leilani Deering was born on November 7th 1985 in San Diego. 

On June 11th of 2020 Nina Leilani Deering died, mysteriously, in a tragic car accident. Nina was 34 at the time of her death. Her passing has sent shock waves through the city and across the world as hundreds of love letters and tributes have poured in that speak of her life-changing performances and work. Her influence in the local music community runs deep; from the Symphony to the Casbah where countless musical projects have been blessed and mystified by her gifts. Her family, friends and musicians from every circle are now mourning her loss and trying to reconcile the many layers of complexity and magic involved in her life and death.

Let it be known that Nina Leilani Deering was the beating heart and humble genius behind the sound of our entire city.

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The third child of Martha and Terrell Deering; a piano teacher and air traffic controller, Nina spent her childhood practicing. She began her musical life as a 3 year old Suzuki violin student but it was the piano she was most drawn to. Thanks to her natural born talents, her mother’s instruction and strict practicing regimens, Nina blossomed into a virtuoso pianist and singer with perfect pitch. Throughout her youth and teenage years, she volunteered her time almost every weekend with the Deering Piano Studio, performing musical numbers, visiting with residents, and playing piano at the nearby ‘Remington’ retirement home. She honed her stage performance skills by starring in many of the studio's musical theater productions. Nina was also an accomplished dancer, classically trained in several genres from competition jazz, ballet, and tap, to traditional hula and Filipino folk dance. She would eventually begin to teach dance as well, choreographing and coordinating classes for children. Nina was truly preparing to become an entertainer in every sense of the word. After highschool she left the shelter of her conservative Christian upbringing and began her studies in Music at Palomar College.

She received her Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University in Classical and Jazz Piano, studying with Dr. Karen Follingstad.  Nina worked as the lead pianist for the San Diego City Ballet Orchestra specializing in Beethoven, Shostakovich, Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc and other French impressionist repertoire and performed piano with the San Diego Symphony Chamber Orchestra and accordion with the San Diego Winds Chamber Orchestra. She worked with the operatic and musical theater touring act Duetto and was the pianist and composer for Opera4Kids and Classics4Kids Orchestra. 

Nina has served several communities with her musical ministry work as a pianist, organist and served as musical director for the Kensington Community Church UCC, the Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian, The Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Youth Theater, the Elijah Minyan Synagogue and the Mission Hills United Methodist Church where she carried out extensive ministry for seniors and those facing homelessness.

Growing on that passion, Nina co-founded the Voices of Our City Choir, a non-profit organization where those facing homelessness can reconnect with hope and possibility through the healing power of music. It was her proudest accomplishment in life and for those who remember her leading the Choir in song, she was the unforgettable and soulful leader you couldn’t help but sing along with. 

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Among her many collaborations, Nina was the founding member and accompanist of the Folklore Community Choir in San Diego and lead vocalist and keyboardist for the cinematic avant pop group Orchid X Mantis. She was one of the eight women in Baby Bushka, a Kate Bush tribute band where her performance of, “This Woman’s Work,” brought audiences across the West Coast and United Kingdom to their knees time and time again.

Her vocal performances were versatile and included solo performances for The Omni Echo Live Sonic Experiment with Chris Warren, the San Diego Opera and Joseph Martin Waters contemporary opera The Magic Hummingbird, performing live at the Cutting Room in Manhattan. 

In addition to her many accomplishments as a performing artist, Nina was also a private piano and vocal instructor to students of Avant Garde Music Company, Music Pillars and Kalabash School of Music + the Arts. 

She is survived by her friends and family and the entire music community who she changed forever with her generous heart, contagious joy, deep sorrow, profound spirituality and endless poetry. She believed in music, she believed in love and she will never be forgotten. Cue Gregory Porter.

Rest in Peace Nina. 

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HER MUSICAL LEGACY

Nina was a virtuoso musician who didn’t waste a minute of her life. She was always busy helping everyone around her to realize their dreams and bring more music, peace and love to our city. Discover all the projects she gave life too.

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NINA’S ORIGINAL MUSIC

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Nina dreamed of recording and releasing a debut album one day entitled Calico. Discover the songs and poetry she penned and all the clues she left behind of her original masterpiece