Dr. Nicholas Fife is a horn pedagogue and performer from Fort Mill, South Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina (2011), followed by his master's degree from Louisiana State University (2013), where he served as the graduate teaching assistant for the horn studio. Dr. Fife finished his DMA at the University of Texas at Austin (2020). His professional performing career began while attending the University of South Carolina, performing with Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the South Carolina Philharmonic. He has since performed with the Laredo Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Mid Texas Symphony, Louisiana Sinfonietta, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Tigerland Brass Quintet, Beaufort Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Freedom Brass Band, the Texas All Star Horn Professor Horn Choir and other ensembles across North America. In December of 2013 Dr. Fife earned the second horn position with the Beloit Janesville Symphony and performed with the orchestra until May 2015, because his family moved to Texas. 

 

          Nick's years of pedagogical experience include teaching horn and chamber music at Texas A&M International University and brass studies at Coker University, where he formed the Coker University Brass Ensemble. He also taught horn and a lecture class called Music in Society at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Currently, Dr. Fife is the adjunct horn professor at Winthrop University. Teaching at Winthrop is an honor because his first private lesson was at Winthrop when he was 12 years old.

 

          Aside from teaching and performing, Nick likes to spend his spare time composing works for brass and electronics, as well as music for brass ensembles. In June 2018, the Atlantic Brass Quintet premiered one of his compositions at the Mostly Modern Festival, which led to several commissions. His compositions have been performed at the New England Conservatory, the Mannes School of Music, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, Texas State University, Florida State University, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Louisiana State University, the University of Texas, the University of Louisiana Monroe, Texas A&M International University, Coker University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Sound Thought Festival, and other institutions, festivals, and ensembles internationally. Nick has over a dozen published works with Wavefront Music and Sheet Music Plus.

 

          Dr. Fife founded the South Carolina Brass Band in 2019, which consists of college brass professors, band directors, orchestral musicians, freelancers, and community members. In 2022 the band expanded to include larger British style brass band music. The goal of the organization is to bring brass band music to the Palmetto state.