Todd Nichols currently serves as Director of Bands at Rutgers University. His duties include oversight and administration of the entire university band program, directing the Marching Scarlet Knights and Symphonic Winds, and teaching graduate conducting. In addition, he has taught various music education courses on the undergraduate level. 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. Nichols is an advocate for new compositions, supporting the efforts of composers in over 20 commissions including Jim Stephenson, David Gillingham, John Mackey, Julie Giroux, Joe Turrin, William Ryden, Kevin Bobo, Joseph Spaniola, Eric Whitacre, Bruce Yurko, and Dana Wilson. He received his BA in music from The College of New Jersey and MM in conducting from Messiah College. Nichols is currently pursuing his DMA in conducting and studies with Dr. William Berz.
As artistic director for the Eastern Wind Symphony, Nichols conducted highly acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, created an annual guest artist and conductor program, recorded the ensemble’s two most recent albums Resurgence and Elements, commissioned six new works, and is active in the development of the EWS Youth Band. Under his direction, the EWS has been invited to perform at major conventions including the 2020 and 2015 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, 2017 NAfME All-Eastern Convention, 2017 International Trumpet Guild Conference, 2019 Northeast Horn Workshop, and the 2019 Association for Concert Bands National Convention. In addition, Nichols currently serves as Assistant Conductor for the Garden State Symphonic Band (Local 16-248 AFM).
For nineteen years Nichols served as Director of Bands at both Roxbury and Edison High School in New Jersey where his ensembles were recognized for outstanding performance at numerous local, state, and national festivals. His Roxbury High School Wind Symphony performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and the 2008 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. His Roxbury band was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2013 and performed at the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Nichols was published in The Conductor’s Companion – 100 Rehearsal Techniques, Imaginative Ideas, Quotes, and Facts. He was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association and American School Band Directors Association in 2016, received the NBA Citation of Excellence, the NJ Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award, and was featured in an article for The Instrumentalist magazine. His professional affiliations include the B1G, NBA, AFM, and CBDNA.
Nichols resides in Hillsborough, NJ, with his wife, Beth, and daughters, Sarah and Emily.