Nickolas Chan has graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majors in sanxian under Zhao Tai-sheng and minors in pipa under Zhang Ying.

Chan first learned the pipa under Wong Yui-kiu when he was in junior secondary school and began learning the sanxian under Zhao Tai-sheng when senior secondary school. Chan had also been to China to receive sanxian trainings under Zhao Cheng-wei and Jiang Shui-lin. Chan was a multiple winner in both pipa and sanxian solo competitions at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. Also, he won a silver award from the advanced group of a joint city competition at Hangzhou in 2012. In the same year, Chan was one of the RTHK Young Music Maker. Chan had received the HSBC scholarship and the Parson Music Foundation Scholarship during his study in the HKAPA. In the same period, he had been to China for advanced studies and had a solo performance in Taipei City.

Chan is active in local music events. He had been invited by different local music organizations: the Hong Kong YWCA Chinese Orchestra, the Yao Yueh Chinese Music Association, the Hong Kong Youth Music Society and the CCC and Music Friends, as a solo guest.