UA Wind Ensemble 

Dr. Chad R. Nicholson, Director of Bands at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music, serves as the conductor of the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds. Additionally, he oversees the entire wind band program and instructs undergraduate and graduate wind conducting students. Nicholson has been active in all facets of music education. In 2009, he wrote a book designed to aid conductors in repertoire selection and concert programming titled Great Music for Wind Band.  He is a contributing author for the recently published sourcebook for music educators, Engaging Musical Practices, and he has written articles for eight different volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Band.

Dr. Nicholson’s experiences as a music educator span all ages and ensemble types. He has conducted many All-State and honor groups around the world. Nicholson is a Chief Guest Conductor of the Beijing Wind Orchestra, China’s first professional wind ensemble. In 2015, he was a member of a distinguished international panel of adjudicators for the All-Chinese Wind Band Contest. Nicholson has worked with ensembles spanning the United States and Asia, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Zach Tolman is pursuing a DMA in wind band conducting at the University of Arizona. Zach serves as a graduate conductor and assists with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band, UA pep bands, UA Wind Ensemble, UA Wind Symphony and UA Symphonic Band. Additionally, Tolman instructs undergraduate conducting students.

Tolman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wyoming in Music Education and Saxophone Performance. During his time at UW, Zach was a graduate teaching assistant and graduate conductor with all UW wind and athletic bands, a member of the University’s top ensembles, recorded on two albums with the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble and the UW Saxophone Studio. Tolman competed around the United States in saxophone quartets.

Zach taught middle and high school band in Wyoming for nine years. His ensembles earned superior ratings throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Tolman was elected as the South Big Horn Basin music district president, the Wyoming Band Vice President and was the adjunct saxophone instructor at Central Wyoming College. In 2017, Tolman received the Wyoming Music Educators Association “Young Music Educator of the Year” award.

Tolman has presented at conferences across the country and is in demand as a clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator in the Rocky Mountain region.