Matthew Nichols

Matthew Nichols, Instructor
MM University of Miami

Areas of Expertise:
Percussion

Email: nicholsm@fau.edu
Office Phone: 561.297.3820
Office: AL 119

Matthew Nichols is a performer and educator currently performing in South Florida.  He is the director of percussion studies at Florida Atlantic University, where he maintains the percussion studio, teaches percussion lessons, directs the percussion ensemble, instructs the percussion pedagogy class, and is on staff as the percussion caption head for the Marching Owls.

Before living in Florida, he spent time working as an instructor at multiple high schools and middle schools in the Greater Richmond area while also maintaining a successful studio of private students.  As a performer, he performed with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, Richmond Wind Band, School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC), and was invited as a guest soloist for the Richmond Symphony's Youth Orchestra 50 year Gala Celebration.  He also performed with many jazz ensembles, show choirs, and pop music groups, such as Moruza and McBeth.

While in South Florida, Mr. Nichols has had the opportunity to work as a clinician at many middle schools and high schools in Palm Beach County, as well as with the Miami Symphony Youth Orchestra in Miami, FL. He has performed with the Miami Symphony, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Grand Opera, Nu Deco Ensemble, Lynn Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony. His time as a performer has given him the chance to perform with artists such as Jacob Collier, Ben Folds, Kishi Bashi, Stephen Marley, Danay Suarez, Emily King, Time for Three, Matthew Joy, Bilal, Dayramir Gonzalez, and more.

Mr. Nichols holds a Bachelors degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studied under Justin Alexander, Peter Martin, Jim Jacobson, William Messerschmidt, Brian Jones and Tony Martucci. He holds a Masters degree from the University of Miami, where his teachers were Svet Stoyanov, Matthew Strauss, and John Yarling.