Personnel Bio

MUCM Brian Nichols
Master Chief Musician Brian Nichols joined the U.S. Coast Guard Band in 2003 and was named Principal Horn in 2005; a position he held until 2019. Over his career, MUCM Nichols has performed in nearly every state in the U.S., in addition to appearances in Canada, England, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Japan. Prior to joining the U.S. Coast Guard Band, Brian served in the U.S. Army Band at West Point from 1998 to 2002. He is an alumnus of the Chautauqua Music Festival and Brevard Music Center. He is a past winner of concerto competitions at Brevard Music Center, the Florida West Coast Youth Symphony, and the Southeast Horn Workshop. MUCM Nichols has been a guest artist and clinician at universities all across the country and at numerous workshops including the Southeast Horn Workshop, the Northeast Women’s Brass Conference, The VCU Brass Fest, and the Northeast Horn Workshop. As a soloist with the USCG Band, Brian has performed Camille Saint-Saens' "Morceau de Concert", Paul Dukas' "Villanelle", and lead the horn section on Robert Schumann's "Konzertstucke for Four Horns".

Notable engagements throughout his professional career include performances with the Boston Symphony, July 4th concerts with the New York Philharmonic, the Smothers Brothers, Arlo Guthrie, Kevin Eubanks, Anne Murray, Dudley Moore, Mitch Miller, and the Irish Tenors. Brian holds a B.A. in Music from Florida State University where his instructor was Dr. William Capps. He has also studied horn with members of the Boston Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera, and Dale Clevenger of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Aside from playing horn, MUCM Nichols is the Drum Major of the USCG Marching Band and the Rating Force Master Chief for all Coast Guard musicians. He is a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer's Academy Class 151, the Senior Enlisted Leadership Course, the Team Leader/Facilitator Course, and also serves as treasurer of the Southeast Connecticut Chapter of the Chief Petty Officer's Association. MUCM Nichols became an Initiated Chief in 2007 after completing CCTI. He is married with 3 children and enjoys skiing, camping, and coaching softball.