Deborah Nitka Hicks, Assistant Principal Cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, has been a member of the orchestra since 1992. 

Born in Worcester, MA, she began playing at age eight. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston in 1988 and studied for the Master of Music at the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Houston, receiving her degree in 1990.  Before joining the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Hicks served as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra.  She has performed with the Houston Symphony and the Central Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and has participated in the Grand Teton Music Festival since 1992.  She resides in Fort Wayne with her husband Andrew, bass trombonist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and her beloved dachshunds. She gives private cello lessons and also enjoys traveling and cooking.