In addition to teaching, Rick has performed in numerous orchestras including the Akron Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Idaho State Civic Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Knox-Galesburg Symphony and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Rick is also a performer of contemporary music and continues to commission and perform new works.

As an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, Rick serves as Illinois Chapter Vice-President and as a member of the New Music Research Committee. He has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as soloist and as an ensemble member. Rick is also a clinician and adjudicator for percussion and steelband throughout Illinois.

Rick is a composer/arranger in the genre of steel band and is published by Pan Ramajay productions and Panyard Publications. Before coming to Western Illinois University, Rick directed the University of Akron Steel Band, the University of Illinois Steel Band, I-Pan Steel Groove, the Idaho State University Steel Band, and his own combo, Panak. He has twice traveled to Trinidad to perform in the national Panorama festival with the bands Potential Symphony and Starlift. He has shared the stage with pan artists such as Ray Holman, Cliff Alexis, Liam Teague, Robert Grenidge, Ken "Professor" Phil more, Tom Miller, Andy Narell, Pan Ramajay and calypso legend, David Rudder.

Rick is a Zildjian and Black Swamp Percussion artist.

Email: RM-Kurasz@wiu.edu
Office: Sallee Hall 113
Phone: 309-298-1355

Kevin Nichols

Kevin A. Nichols, Assistant Professor of Percussion at Western Illinois University, teaches applied percussion, directs the percussion ensemble and is the Drumline Instructor/Arranger for the Marching Leathernecks. Outside of WIU, he is active as a performer, director, clinician and adjudicator in the Midwest.

Mr. Nichols’ performance accomplishments currently include membership in the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and participation in the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and Galesburg Symphony Chorus. Active on the drum set, he has entertained audiences as part of various Jazz, Rock, and Latin groups throughout Illinois. In particular, he enjoys performing music of the Caribbean with the Trinidad Tripoli Steel band and Steel Express. His WIU performances include the Faculty Chamber Series and Summer Music Theatre.

As a director and clinician, Mr. Nichols 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. During the summer months, he is a Percussion Instructor as well as Jazz Band Director for the WIU Summer Music Camps. Mr. Nichols has also adjudicated events for I.H.S.A. and the I.M.E.A. All-State Convention.

Mr. Nichols is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa. In addition, he holds two Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University, in Jazz Pedagogy and Percussion Performance, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University. His teachers include Dan Moore, Al Payson, Terry Applebaum and Robert Bankert.

Mr. Nichols is the current vice president for the Illinois Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, and is also a member of I.A.J.E., M.E.N.C., and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

See also the WIU Percussion Studies homepage and the WIU Bands homepage. WIU Appointment, 1998.

Office Location: 111 Sallee Hall
Office Phone: 309/298-1235
Email: KA-Nichols1@wiu.edu