Trevor Nicholas BME ’08 has long been interested in music’s power to heal. After traumatic events in his youth, music became a refuge. As a music educator, he extends that refuge to his students.

“My career has been a snowball of gathering partnerships and like-minded people to make a difference in students’ lives, leading them into their communities to make everyone’s lives a little better,” Nicholas said.

His time at North Park University helped build lasting connections while growing his skills, providing a pathway where he could take composition lessons and participate in musical ensembles. These skills strengthened his repertoire, allowing him to later adjust and compose music for his students’ voices, model different instruments, and lead student ensembles.

He credits North Park’s former director of music education and choral programs, Dr. Rollo Dilworth—a well-known and prolific choral composer—with changing the course of his life. “He’s still a mentor of mine today,” Nicholas said.

My career has been a snowball of gathering partnerships and like-minded people to make a difference in students’ lives, leading them into their communities to make everyone’s lives a little better.

A renowned composer and educator in his own right, Nicholas is a two-time Grammy Music Educator Award finalist and a 2025 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching finalist.

He has continuously grown and healed his community through music. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicholas led students, alumni, staff, and arts partners in a trauma-responsive music video project featuring his original composition, raising $2,200,000 for UNICEF USA.

Over the years, his partnerships with the likes of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Cubs, and Yo-Yo Ma have earned more than $600,000 in grants and opportunities for students.

To further broaden his impact, Nicholas has begun fully funded doctoral studies in Northwestern University’s music education program to research the intersection of music and healing. He said, “I want to pursue curiosities in partnership with those already doing the work, adding to that work with joy.”