Guest Artist Recital – Christopher Nichols, clarinet

Christopher Nichols joined the faculty of the University of Delaware as assistant professor of clarinet in 2013 where he instructs undergraduate and graduate applied clarinet, clarinet ensemble, chamber music, pedagogy and literature, and annually hosts Delaware Clarinet Day. As an artist clinician, Dr. Nichols has recently appeared at Rutgers University, the Crane School of Music at SUNY-Potsdam, the University of Maryland and the University of Southern Mississippi. Dedicated to the cultivation of aspiring pre-college clarinetists, Dr. Nichols currently serves on the faculty of the Delaware Governor’s School of Excellence, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, St. Andrew’s School and maintains a private studio. Dr. Nichols’ students have found success in competitions, won positions in military bands and serve as music educators.

Dr. Nichols is a versatile clarinetist with performances as a soloist and in ensembles across the United States and abroad. He regularly performs with orchestras such as the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, the Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of Christiana Winds and New Music Delaware and regularly collaborates with established chamber ensembles such as the Serafin String Quartet and the Taggart-Grycky Duo. He has served for over a decade in the Army Music Career program with performances throughout the United States, Germany, France and Austria. Dr. Nichols currently serves as a reservist with the 380th Army Band in Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Nichols has appeared as a featured soloist at conferences of the International Clarinet Association, European Clarinet Association, and College Music Society. His live performances have been selected for inclusion in the Audio Performance Archive of College Music Symposium and broadcast on Kansas and Michigan Public Radio. In 2015, Dr. Nichols work as a solo recitalist was recognized with an Established Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts.

Dr. Nichols is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, International Clarinet Association and Music Teachers National Association. He currently serves as the College Music Society Northeast Chapter’s executive board member for performance and as audio reviews editor for The Clarinet.

Dr. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, from the Boston Conservatory, Master of Music from Kansas State University and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas. His primary mentors include Ian Greitzer, Kenneth Radnofsky, Steven Barta, Tod Kerstetter and Stephanie Zelnick.

As a Légère Reeds Endorsing Artist and a Buffet Artist Clinician, Dr. Nichols performs exclusively on Légère Signature Series reeds and Buffet clarinets. Additional information is available at his personal website www.christophernicholsclarinet.com.