Today we’d like to introduce you to John Nichols III.
John, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started composing at the age of 4. I persisted and attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and completed my doctorate in music composition at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Over time, my compositional style evolved from an orchestral approach using traditional instruments to modern electro-acoustic music, utilizing computer technology. My works are often demanding, and are characterized as engrossing, visceral, and compelling reflections of the full spectrum of human emotion.
People have described my music with adjectives such as tectonic, seismic, and cosmic. My works explore the immediacy of life, that we find all around us, but sometimes overlook, because there is great drama to be found in seemingly incidental occurrences.
Well, after my doctorate I served in a director role at a small private college in the Chicago suburbs. Unfortunately, the position required me to sacrifice composing and kept me away from the creative arts. Now, in addition to composing music, I am working in theatre and event production.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have been nearly homeless at many times in my life. Imagine having the Raman noodle/canned-tuna diet for the past 20 years. I’ve spent over two decades struggling because it is the nature of being an artist. It is extremely difficult to make a living without compromising your authenticity.
This is something they don’t teach us in school, among many other things. Well, once you come to terms with the fact that education is for its own sake, and stop thinking that education is for the purpose of employment, at least in the higher arts in our country, then it will be easier to accept. But, you know, I stay positive, that is when I’m not in a bout of depression. 🙂
Please tell us about John Nichols III.
As a freelancer, I offer a variety of services such as composition, sound design, audio engineer, touring technical director, lighting, projections, carpentry, electrician, props design, scenic, fly operator, stage crew, show tech, trombonist, and I’m still expanding my skill set.
My specialty is surround sound, so theatre venues and events that are willing to utilize an immersive sonic environment, well they are in for a treat. Some of my achievements include participating in the Strasbourg European Art Fair, Centro Mexicano para la Música y las Artes Sonoras, and giving a lecture on my work at Northwestern University last month (February).
In addition to my versatility, I give my clients total dedication to the project. When I commit, I commit 100% and I want the project to be a success. As for my specialty in composition and sound design, I have been fortunate to travel to Europe and many places in the Americas to present my award-winning works.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Regardless of how many challenges I face, I can’t speak on changing what has already happened. I’m not at that vantage point yet, where I can definitively say something was a mistake or should have been done differently.
I guess if I had to choose something, I would have slowed down in that snow storm before I flew off the road and crashed into a pole, but then again, maybe something worse would have happened if not for that…
Contact Info:
- Website: johnnicholsiii.com
- Phone: 708.698.0610
- Email: jsnicholsiii@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Stephan Charpentier, Joe Hampton, Adam B. Cook, Shazia Ilyas, Pierre Montagnez, Erin Day
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