Trevor Nichols, chorus director at Senn High School
Senn High School Choir Director Trevor Nichols and his students at the Harris Theater prior to their pre-concert lobby performance in February 2020
Trevor Nichols is the choir teacher at Nicholas Senn High School on Chicago's north side, which has been a "Strong Voices" partner school since 2017. He writes:
"The last live performance by the vocalists of Senn High School, just before the COVID-19 pandemic robbed us of gathering in song, was opening Music of the Baroque's "Rival Divas" program at the Harris Theater on February 24th, 2020. Ten years prior, I was a student teacher at Lane Tech High School and was introduced to MOB teaching artist Elizabeth Gottlieb and the "Strong Voices" program by Lane Tech choir director Paul Carrera. As a young music educator, I was amazed that a program existed to provide free voice lessons, master classes, regular ensemble coaching, and professional performances to our Chicago students. Additionally, I was struck by the world-class musicians and mentors—such as Ms. Gottlieb—that MOB recruited to coach them. I told myself that once I secured a choral teaching position that I would reach out to partner with the Strong Voices program. Ten years later (and some passionate emails to MOB's former artistic operations manager John Ryan about why my students would be a great fit for Strong Voices), we were invited into the MOB family. Since then, MOB has helped guide my students to college careers in music, greatly increased the musicianship and musical possibilities of our ensembles, and strengthened me as a music educator. And, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the performing arts, the Strong Voices program fights to continue to shape the future of the arts and give hope to my students in the present. Thank you, MOB!"
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