Anyone who has spent even a short time with Kerry Nichols knows that “music,” “knowledge” and “passion” accurately describe his take on life.
Nichols, director of The Villages Pops Orchestra, has had an extensive musical journey that took him to various significant places.
Since moving to The Villages in 2010, he has aimed to create multiple opportunities for the community to engage with the orchestra and opera.
“Orchestras have existed long before concert bands,” Nichols said. “The literature is more extensive. You add a whole different color to the ensemble.”
He has performed in The Villages Concert Band, The Villages Swing Band, The Villages Symphonic Winds, Celebration Brass and occasionally pitched in when The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra had an empty chair.
Unfortunately, this exciting journey was halted for a while after he was diagnosed with an ear problem, but the halt was not long. Soon, Nichols was requested to lead The Villages Flute Choir. He went on to do that for about two years.
After stepping down from that group, he took the baton for the Pops Orchestra, progressively narrowing down his calendar to focus on a particular group.
Nichols has fancied seeing the players’ progression, as well as exploring the literature written for a full orchestra with strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion.
“There are times in a rehearsal or performance where they play something together, and I get goosebumps,” Nichols said.
John Rogerson, a violinist in the orchestra for about four years, told about his memories with Kerry and the group.
“Nichols has got a great musical talent and has a great sense of humor,” said Rogerson, of the Village of Hillborough. “He makes it a fun rehearsal. It’s one that goes by so quickly. You hardly know you’re there.”
At present, Nichols has been rehearsing with the string players since March with everyone adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
“It feels good (to be rehearsing again),” Nichols said.
Due to the pandemic shutting events down, they never got to perform the music they rehearsed for two concerts that were earlier planned for last year.
Now set for this year, shows are a Christmas concert to be held Nov. 30 at Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Complex and the “The B’s Knees,” where the pieces are written by people whose last name begins with B, which will be held Nov. 7 at Savannah Center.
Nichols didn’t have a chance to experience playing in an orchestra until college.
In the fourth grade, Nichols tried out the viola, but it didn’t work out. The following year, he tried his hands on the trumpet.
“I liked the sound of it,” he said.
He realized that he was serious about playing, but he wasn’t too serious about practicing the basics. When he was studying music education at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, he discovered he needed to study certain things to play well.
After completing his education, Nichols worked as a teacher for few years in Wisconsin. He was very interested in teaching abroad, so he signed up for a band director position at The American School in Tokyo with a two-year contract. After that, he kept renewing each year for more than 20 years.
“The students can do something they didn’t have any idea before that time,” Nichols said.
During this time, Nichols not only kept polishing his trumpet skills, but he also had several other instruments under his resume. In some instants, he filled in open slots in trombone or saxophone sections for different bands.
“It’s an instantaneous art that appeals to your emotional and cerebral parts of your intellect and soul,” said Nichols. “When you’re making music, it’s there, and it’s gone. You have to appreciate it in the moment.”