Dr. Bill Nicholls

Dr. Bill Nicholls became the conductor of the Laguna Community Concert Band in January, 1996. Born in Hollywood, the son of a professional trombonist, Bill developed a passion for music early in his life.

While studying music at California State University, Long Beach he played with the Long Beach Symphony, the Compton Symphony and the Disneyland Barbershop Quartet. Bill was awarded a scholarship to Juilliard. While in New York City, he performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, the Les and Larry Elgart Band and the Carnegie Hall Artist Series. He was invited by the premier American conductor Frederick Fennell, to study conducting at the University of Miami.

Since completing his Doctorate, Bill has taught at Northern Illinois University and Washington State University, California State University at Fullerton and , most recently at the University of Denver. Recent professional activities include resident conductor with the Denver Concert Band, giving conducting master classes at the Festival du Inverno in Sao Paulo, Brazil and presenting a paper on Wind Band Performance at the World Association of Symphonic Bands held in Valencia Spain.

He appears regularly as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and Canada and also teaches music for the Laguna unified School District and Concordia University. Bill is an avid collector of global band music and looks forward to sharing it with Laguna audiences. Dr Nicholls is married and has two sons.

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