Bio

Central Floridian Elsa "Kate" Nichols is the Adjunct Flute Professor at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance with a minor in Musicology at the University of Arizona in summer 2018. In spring 2017, while completing her academic courses, Kate served as a visiting assistant professor and sabbatical replacement for her flute professor, Brian Luce, at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. She also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Central Florida, where she studied with Nora Lee Garcia.

As a performer, Kate has held the principal flute position for the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra, a regional orchestra near Tucson, AZ, and performed in renowned competitions such as the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition as a quarter finalist and the Mid-South Flute Society’s Young Artist Competition as the first prize winner. She has also performed in many masterclasses with prominent flutists and in summer festivals, such as the Round Top Festival Institute and the British Isles Music Festival.

Since her undergraduate studies, Kate has maintained a private flute studio comprised of elementary through high school students. Her teaching focuses on the idea of training confidence and consistency, creating a strong technical and musical foundation, as well as an instinctual sense of professionalism to develop independent, capable musicians. As a result, many of these students have found success in musical endeavors, such as participation in the Tucson Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, successful auditions for Arizona Music Educators Association all-state ensembles, superior and excellent ratings in solo and ensemble, performances in concerto competitions, and scholarship awards from universities including Research I institutions.