Clarinetist Christopher Nichols enjoys an active career as a recitalist, military bandsman, orchestral musician and educator with frequent appearances throughout the United States and Europe. 

Dr. Nichols currently serves as Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Delaware. His previous appointments include Americana Music Academy, the Boston Arts Academy, the Ottley Music School, and Concordia University, Nebraska. In demand as a master class clinician and recitalist, he has recently visited Central College, the Crane School of Music at State University of New York-Potsdam, Delta State University, Hastings College, Southeast Missouri State University, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, University of Maryland, University of Southern Mississippi, Virginia Tech, and Valley City State University. He spends part of the summer as a clarinet instructor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan where he also performs with the Blue Lake Festival Band and Orchestra. 

Dr. Nichols has enjoyed a long career in the United States Army Music Career Program, first on active duty and currently as a reservist with the 380th Army Band in Richmond, Virginia. He has performed with Army Bands around the world, including the 1st Infantry Division Band, the 312th Army Band, 338th Army Band, the 484th Army Band, the 85th Infantry Division Band and the United States Army Europe Band. He has appeared as a soloist with both the 1st Infantry Division Band and the 312th Army Band. His service has been recognized with the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award. 

Dr. Nichols performs frequently with his professional chamber music group Payton and the Pipes. Comprised of the unique combination of countertenor, flute and clarinet, Payton and the Pipes actively commissions and premieres new literature for this innovative medium. The group has recently appeared at universities in Kansas, Nebraska and Mississippi, the Great Spaces Music and Arts Series at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas, and College Music Society Regional Conferences. July 2013 marked Dr. Nichols’ debut performance at the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest® in Assisi, Italy in a recital of works for voice, clarinet and piano which included the world premiere of composer Joseph Eidson’s Birds of Passage for countertenor, clarinet and piano.

Dr. Nichols educational credits include the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, Master of Music from Kansas State University, and Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, from the Boston Conservatory. His primary teachers include Steve Barta, Ian Greitzer, Tod Kerstetter, Ken Radnofsky and Stephanie Zelnick. He maintains memberships in the American Federation of Musicians, the College Music Society, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Music Teachers National Association, the National Association for Music Education and the International Clarinet Association. 

As a Légère Artist, Dr. Nichols exclusively performs on Légère Signature Series reeds.