Dr. Todd Nichols
Director of University Bands
Music Education

Todd Nichols’ credits include work as a music educator, conductor, and performer throughout the United States. Dr. Nichols currently serves as Director of University Bands at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. His duties include oversight and administration of the university band program, directing the Marching Scarlet Knights and Symphonic Winds, and teaching graduate conducting. As Director of the Marching Scarlet Knights, Dr. Nichols led highly acclaimed performances for the NFL’s nationally televised Monday Night Football, the 2021 Music for All Grand Nationals finals performance, and for United States President Joseph Biden. In 2020-2021, Dr. Nichols served as a Guest Lecturer at New York University, and he currently teaches private conducting lessons for Columbia University. Dr. Nichols currently serves as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s National Association.

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Dr. Nichols annually serves as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and recording producer and is especially honored to have guest conducted the United States Army Field Band. In addition, Dr. Nichols currently serves as Assistant Conductor for the Garden State Symphonic Band (Local 16-248 AFM). As artistic director for the Eastern Wind Symphony, Dr. Nichols conducted highly acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and records regularly with the ensemble, including two recent albums Resurgence and Elements. Under his direction, the EWS received multiple Grammy Award nominations of eligibility and has been invited to perform at major conventions including the 2021 and 2015 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, 2019 ACB National Convention, 2017 NAfME All Eastern Convention, and 2017 ITG Conference. Dr. Nichols has commissioned twenty-five new works for wind band, supporting composers including Kevin Bobo, Bruce Broughton, David Gillingham, Julie Giroux, Steve Gryc, Jennifer Higdon, Allison Loggins-Hull, John Mackey, Hila Pitman, William Ryden, Joseph Spaniola, James Stephenson, Randall Standridge, Joe Turrin, Dana Wilson, Eric Whitacre, and Bruce Yurko.

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Dr. Nichols received his BM in music from The College of New Jersey and MM in conducting from Messiah College. In April 2022, Dr. Nichols completed his DMA at Rutgers University as a conducting student of Dr. William Berz. For nineteen years, Dr. Nichols served as Director of Bands at Roxbury and Edison High Schools in New Jersey, where his ensembles were recognized for outstanding performance at numerous local, state, and many prestigious national festivals and concerts. Dr. Nichols recently co-authored two articles accepted for publication in The Journal of Band Research and WASBE Journal. Dr. Nichols was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and American School Band Directors Association in 2016. He received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association in 2016 and 2020 and NJ the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award in 2001. Dr. Nichols professional affiliations include the B1G Band Directors Association, WASBE, CBDNA, and AFM.

 

Dr. Nichols resides in Branchburg, NJ with his wife, Beth, and daughters, Sarah, and Emily.