Christopher Nichols

Critically acclaimed clarinetist Christopher Nichols enjoys a dynamic career with performances across the United States and abroad. As an instrumental soloist, he received praise from the American Prize: “…lovely long line, evocative playing, flexible…tone is rich and round, welcoming, clean and elegant…fine performances from a skilled artist.”

Nichols regularly performs with regional orchestras throughout the Mid-Atlantic, is a member of Christiana Winds, and has recently collaborated with the acclaimed Serafin Ensemble, as well as members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He has served for over a decade in Army Bands and is currently the first sergeant of the 287th Army Band in Wilmington, Delaware.

A dedicated pedagogue, Nichols joined the faculty of the University of Delaware School of Music in 2013 where he is Associate Professor of Clarinet. As an artist clinician, he regularly appears at universities throughout the United States. His students have found success in competitions, won positions in military bands, and serve as music educators.

Nichols has appeared as a featured soloist at international conferences and festivals. Additionally, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and public radio in Kansas, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Michigan, have broadcast his recordings. In 2015, the Delaware Division of the Arts awarded him an Established Artist Fellowship recognizing his work as a solo recitalist. He has released solo and chamber music recordings on internationally distributed labels including Navona Records, Viduus Records and Albany Records, which have won praise in publications such as Gramophone, Fanfare, NACWPI Journal, De Klarinet, and Pizzicato.

As a Légère Reeds Endorsing Artist, Silverstein Pro Team Artist, and a Buffet Crampon USA Artist Clinician, Nichols performs exclusively on Légère Signature Series reeds, Silverstein ligatures and Buffet R-13 clarinets. Additionally, he is an RCW Artist and plays on RCW clarinet barrels.