Nicholas P. H. Wolford
Biography
Background
An Ohio native, Nicholas Wolford holds a Bachelor of Music Education - Voice from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Nicholas is honored to have studied private voice with Dr. Eric Brown, private choral conducting with Dr. Greg Detweiler, jazz keyboard and choral methods with Dr. Roosevelt Escalante, and vocal pedagogy and diction with Dr. Roma Prindle. Nicholas is currently pursuing a Master's of Music Education degree at Ohio University, with intent to graduate in fall, 2025.
Organizations
While at Morehead, Nicholas functioned as a leader and educator in the music department. He served as the tech support for the Morehead State University Choral Festival, as well as being a member of ACDA and NAfME. Nicholas was honored to sing with the Morehead State University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers in Ireland on their 2013 International tour, competing in and winning the Mayo International Choral Festival with the Morehead Chamber Singers. He also competed in the 2016 International tour of Rome, Italy where he performed with the Chamber Singers in various cathedrals around Rome, as well as among the ruins of Pompeii and at St. Peter's Bascillica in Vatican City, ending by taking home a gold diploma in the Musica Eterna Roma Competition, held in the capitol.Nicholas has been a member of the Morehead State University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Opera Program, as well as a conductor of the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers on multiple occasions. Nicholas is an alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is currently a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association where he sang with the Kentucky All-Collegiate Choir in 2022, the National Association for Music Educators and the American Choral Director's Association where he served as a student conductor in 2017.
Professional
Nicholas's teaching career began at West Carter High School. For two years, he conducted the West Carter High School Choir. Nicholas has also led music at various churches in the region. He has also served as the music director at First Christian Church in Mt. Sterling, First Christian Church in Olive Hill, First Church of the Nazarene in Mt. Sterling and First Assembly of God in Jackson, Ohio. Comfortable on all contemporary praise and worship instruments, Nicholas has played with various groups as a singer, pianist, lead/rhythm guitarist, bassist and drummer, and is comfortable directing both contemporary and traditional ensembles.Currently, he holds a full-time position as Director of Choirs and Director of Youth and Family Ministries at First Christian Church in Ashland, Kentucky, where he currently resides with his wife and their children (a cat named Bill and a dog named Pacem). In addition to his own choirs, he is also actively performing with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra Chorus in Huntington, WV, as well as maintaining a private piano and voice studio at Aspire Conservatory in Louisa, KY.