Eastern Wind Symphony

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Eastern Wind Symphony, founded in the spring of 1996, is an ensemble for musicians in the tri-state area dedicated to performing the best wind and percussion literature. The Eastern Wind Symphony presented critically acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall, The John F. Kennedy Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, and at the NaFME Eastern Division Conference. In addition, EWS produced numerous commercial CDs of exceptional quality on the prestigious Klavier, Curnow Music Press, and MASTERS labels. Artistic Director Mr. Todd Nichols and Assistant Conductor Mr. Adam Warshafsky currently guide The Eastern Wind Symphony to refocus its artistic goals and revitalize the community it supports. Through a new guest artist program instituted in 2009, internationally acclaimed musicians including Allen Vizzutti, Stanley Drucker, Phil Smith, and Joe Alessi, performed with the ensemble. Performance highlights include a premier feature performance at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2013 and a sold out performance with André Thomas at The John F. Kennedy Center in 2012. In the past year, EWS created an annual Visiting Distinguished Conductor Program, commissioned Red Tail Skirmish (for wind ensemble) by renowned composer Bruce Yurko, and established a highly successful youth wind symphony. The Eastern Wind Symphony completed their most recent recording Resurgence under Mr. Nichols’ direction. The Eastern Wind Symphony membership consists of professional musicians from the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area, including music educators and freelance musicians. In addition, numerous members manage businesses, work in the sciences, and raise families. Whatever their vocation, all members of The Eastern Wind Symphony are accomplished and talented musicians who volunteer their time and enjoy performing the most highly regarded wind symphony repertoire in a high-caliber ensemble. Their reward is musical enjoyment at its highest level: music for music’s sake!

Eastern Wind Symphony

Conductor's Bio

Todd Nichols’ credits include work as a music educator, conductor, and performer throughout the United States. Mr. Nichols was selected via an international audition as one of only ten Conducting Fellows for the 2012 Juilliard School Conducting Workshop for Music Educators. Mr. Nichols currently serves on the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic Advisory Committee and the national focus group for the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. In April 2014, Mr. Nichols had the great honor of guest conducting the United States Army Field Band. As Artistic Director and conductor for The Eastern Wind Symphony, Mr. Nichols orchestrated the ensemble’s debut in Carnegie Hall, created an Annual Guest Artist Program with many of New York’s leading soloists, created a Visiting Distinguished Conductor Program, recorded the ensemble’s most recent album Resurgence, and is active in the development of the newly formed Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band. Mr. Nichols has produced and assisted with the production of professional wind band recordings for ensembles including the Eastern Wind Symphony, Keystone Wind Ensemble, Westchester University, Rutgers University Wind Ensemble, Messiah College Wind Ensemble, and New Jersey Wind Orchestra. Mr. Nichols is an advocate for new compositions and has supported the efforts of composers in numerous commissions including David Gillingham, John Mackey, Joe Turrin, Eric Whitacre, Bruce Yurko, Robert Farnon, and Dana Wilson. As an educator, Mr. Nichols’ concert, marching, and jazz ensembles have been recognized for outstanding performance at numerous local, state, and national festivals. His wind ensembles have performed at Avery Fisher Hall in 2014, at Carnegie Hall in 2006, in the 2008 and 2012 Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and in the 2008 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Under his direction, the Roxbury Wind Symphony was the first concert band from the state of New Jersey to ever be extended an invitation to perform at this most prestigious clinic. In addition, the Roxbury Band program was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2013. Roxbury was the only school awarded this honor in 2013 and is the only group from NJ to ever receive this prestigious award. Mr. Nichols' marching bands have won six state championship titles and have made finals for Music for All Regional competitions since 2008. Most recently, the Roxbury marching band performed at the 2014 Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Roxbury Wind Symphony recordings of Chris Bernatos’ pieces Stomp, Clap, Snap, Tango! and Turbulence are used as demonstration recordings by TRN Music and Bandworks publishing. Mr. Nichols resides in Hillsborough, NJ with his wife Beth and daughters Sarah and Emily.