Nicholls State University Department of Music

09/03/2026

Our first student recital of the semester!

09/02/2026

Tomorrow night!

08/25/2026

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfGT2DXiWmynizj-8UGKyOX66PoP0vjsuq0x3zvNxuZbnFFA/viewform

08/23/2026

Join the Pride of Nicholls Marching Band for High School Day on September 12!

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Pride of Nicholls will host a High School day for any high school band students that are interested in participating. Cost of participation is $20. Pizza and drinks will be served after the rehearsal. You will receive a T-shirt and admission to the Nicholls footb...

08/22/2026

Click the link in the comments to view the full schedule of events!

08/13/2026

We are so excited to welcome our students this Monday. A massive thank you to Ms. Felicia Gros for working behind the scenes to keep us prepped, organized, and ready to hit the classrooms and studios!

08/13/2026

Community members, are you looking for an excuse to play more trombone?

Band directors, do your high school trombone students need an outlet to play loud without deafening your woodwind section?
Come join the Bayou Bones Trombone Choir! We meet once a week in Lindsley Hall at Nicholls State University. Whether you’re a high school freshman or someone who just enjoys playing the trombone, we’d love to have you here. Check out the flyer below or feel free to reach Dr. Spencer Hudson at [email protected] for more information!

07/28/2026

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Spencer Hudson to our faculty! Dr. Hudson will serve as Visiting Instructor of Low Brass and Assistant Director of Athletic Bands.

A New Orleans based trombonist, Dr. Hudson teaches and performs all throughout the Southeast. Prior to his appointment at Nicholls State University, he served as the Instructor of Low Brass at Louisiana Tech University, Saint Anselm College, and held graduate teaching assistantships at Boston University and Oklahoma State.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Hudson is an active performer and has worked with groups across the country. Currently, he is the principal bass trombonist for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the Mississippi Symphony, Acadiana Symphony, Opera Louisiané, Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Along with these groups, he has also served as the bass trombonist for the New England Repertory Orchestra and Du Bois Orchestra, and has performed with the Monroe Symphony, Opera Mississippi, Plymouth Philharmonic, and was a featured soloist with the New England Brass Band.

Along with his work in large ensembles, Dr. Hudson has seen success through various competitions. Most notably, he ranked as a finalist for the American Trombone Workshop Division II Bass Trombone Solo Competition and won the grand prize of the IWBC Ginger Turner Ensemble Competition with the Oklahoma State University Trombone Octet.

Dr. Hudson holds music degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, Oklahoma State University, and Boston University. His primary teachers include Scott Landry, Dr. Ben McIlwain, Paul Compton, Gabe Rice, Don Lucas, and Ilan Morgenstern.
When he’s not playing the trombone, Spencer enjoys cooking with his wife Casey and spending time with their four rabbits: Gus, Penelope, Ruby, and Wilbur.

07/20/2026

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Kindy recently traveled to Incheon, South Korea to attend the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest conference. While at the conference, she performed two pieces, one of which was composed by fellow colleague Dr. Ben Robichaux. Dr. Kindy also adjudicated the finals of the ICA's Research Competition and prepared a presentation on behalf of the ICA Collegiate and Pre-Professional Engagement Committee during the conference. This was her first trip to South Korea and certainly won't be the last! Congratulations!

07/17/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Skye Holmes as our new Instructor of Music and Director of Concert Bands!

Dr. Holmes holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Drake University, a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Messiah University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from Texas Tech University.
Before joining Nicholls State University, Dr. Holmes spent seven years on the faculty at Valdosta State University, where she served in several leadership roles, including Interim Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands. During her tenure, she conducted the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, led the Blazin' Brigade Marching Band through five successful seasons - including a national championship performance in McKinney, Texas - and directed the Hot Shots pep band through multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Holmes taught high school band for five years at Indianola High School in Iowa. She remains an active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States.
Dr. Holmes's professional interests include conducting pedagogy, rehearsal techniques, and preparing the next generation of music educators. She is deeply grateful for the support of her colleagues, friends, and family - her husband, Steven; their son, Owen; and their three beloved cats, Juniper, Cypress, and Willow.