Dr. Kevin Nichols, Drumline Coordinator
Professor of Percussion
Sallee Hall 111
Telephone: (309) 298-1235
Email:
KA-Nichols1@wiu.edu
Dr. Kevin A. Nichols, Professor of Music at Western Illinois University.
At WIU, he teaches applied percussion, percussion ensemble, percussion
techniques, and is coordinator for the Marching Leatherneck Drumline.
He is proficient in orchestral percussion, drumset, and world
percussion.
Nichols is the Principal Percussionist with the Heartland Festival
Orchestra. Additionally, he is a member of the Peoria Symphony
Orchestra and Knox Galesburg Symphony. Active on the drum set, he is
a member of the resident faculty jazz combo, the Hopper Jazztet, as well
as the Post6 Big Band, Peoria Heritage Ensemble, Lamoine River
Ramblers, and the rural rock band Iron Orchard. Additionally, He has
supported such notable artists as Marie Osmond, Evelyn Glennie, David
Amram, Jim Rattigan, Turtle Island String Quartet, Avanti Guitar Trio,
and the Tunkul Percusiones México.
Dr Nichols recently performed at PASIC 2024 as part of the New
Music/Research series “Drumset: Beyond its Roots.” He and the WIU
Percussion Ensemble presented at the 2024 Midwest Band and
Orchestra Conference. Other presentations include the Illinois Chapter
of the Percussive Arts Society, both the Illinois and Iowa All-State
conference, and the Taos (NM) Youth Music Group. As a director he is
the former Director of the Central Illinois Youth Percussion Ensemble in
Peoria, and has led Concert and Marching Percussion Ensembles
throughout the state of Illinois.
I
n the summer of 2017, he was in residency in San Jose, Costa Rica.
During the rich cultural experience, he presented clinics and lessons on
a variety of topics including marching percussion, orchestral percussion,
and drumset.
Dr. Nichols received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the
University of Iowa. He is an Educational Artist for the Avedis Zildjian
Cymbal Company, Vic Firth, and Remo, Inc.
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