Doctoral student invited to perform on 5-state tour with the 312th Army Band

Christopher R. Nichols, a University of Kansas doctoral student (clarinet), was invited to perform as a featured soloist on a 5-state tour in July with the 312th Army Band. The calendar included performances in Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Louisiana. He performed a clarinet solo with band from Joseph Spaniola's "The Three Graces."

Nichols currently serves as principal clarinet of the 312th Army Band of Lawrence, Kansas. He was the former principal clarinet and concertmaster of the 1st Infantry Division Band at Fort Riley, Kansas with performances throughout Europe and the United States. He has also been heard in performances with the United States Army Europe Band, the Salina Symphony, the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, and as a soloist with the University Park Symphony Orchestra and the Hays Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded for Mode Records and been published by Woodwindiana, Inc. His former teachers include Dr. Stephanie Zelnick, Dr. Tod Kerstetter, Ian Greitzer, Steven Barta, Gunter Voit, and Ken Radnofsky. He has served on the faculties of the Ottley Music School, the Boston Arts Academy and the Berklee College of Music Preparatory School. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the International Clarinet Association, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He holds a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, from the Boston Conservatory, and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Kansas State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet at the University of Kansas where he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.