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Dr. Susan Nicholson is the Chair of the Music Department and the Director of Instrumental Studies at King University where she conducts the jazz ensemble, symphonic winds, and instrumental chamber ensembles. In addition, Dr. Nicholson teaches harmony and composition, instrumental conducting, orchestration and arranging, and instrumental music education courses. Susan was recently invited to guest lecture at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center’s College for Older Adults and the Jack E. Snider Honors Program at King.
Prior to her appointment at King, Dr. Nicholson was an adjunct professor of music at Winthrop University, woodwind specialist at Fort Mill High School (SC), and the Coordinator of the Carowinds Festival of Music in Charlotte. Previous collegiate positions include Brevard College and Rhode Island College, and secondary school experience at the Pine Crest School (FL) and St. Anne School (SC). She has maintained an active performing career with the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Providence Ballet, Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, Asheville Symphony, Asheville Lyric Opera, Hendersonville Symphony, Charlotte Repertory Orchestra, and other performing organizations throughout the Southeast and New England areas.
Dr. Nicholson was awarded the Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts award at Brevard College in 2006 and 2007 for exceptional teaching in the arts. She was selected as the Rock Hill, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Year at St. Anne School. Her professional affiliations include membership in the College Band Directors National Association, Tennessee Music Education Association, National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda (Winthrop University and University of Miami), and Tau Beta Sigma (honorary member).
Susan earned a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education from Winthrop University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Multiple Woodwind Performance from the University of Miami (FL). Dr. Nicholson’s woodwind professors include Phil Thompson, Margaret Donaghue, Gary Keller, Francesca Arnone, and Luciano Magnanini. She has had post-graduate conducting study with Virginia Allen, Eugene Corporon, Jack Stamp, and Dennis Fisher.
- Doctor of Musical Arts in Multiple Woodwind Performance, University of Miami
- Master of Music Education, Winthrop University
- Bachelor of Music Education, Winthrop University