Kevin Nichols

Associate Professor of Music at Western Illinois University

Kevin A. Nichols is an Associate Professor of Music at Western Illinois University (WIU), specializing in percussion. He teaches applied percussion and percussion methods, and also coaches jazz combos. Additionally, he serves as the Drumline Instructor/Arranger for the Marching Leathernecks at WIU.1 4

Education and Career

Dr. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University, along with two Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University in Jazz Pedagogy and Percussion Performance. He has also completed coursework towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa.1 2

Professional Activities

Outside of his teaching role, Dr. Nichols is active as a performer, director, clinician, and adjudicator across the Midwest and Southwest. He has performed with notable artists such as Marie Osmond and Evelyn Glennie, and is involved with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra as a section percussionist and assistant timpanist.1 4 His research focuses on compositions for drum set as a multi-percussion instrument, and he has presented his work at various universities.1

Affiliations

Dr. Nichols is a member of several professional organizations including the Percussive Arts Society, where he serves on the Drumset Committee, as well as M.E.N.C., C.M.S., and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is recognized as an Educational Artist for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company and Remo, Inc..1 2

For further details on his professional background, you can view his LinkedIn profile here .3