2023 Soloist Winter

Eligh Nichols

Eligh has been passionate about music for as long as he can remember and began playing both piano and violin when he was just 3 years old. At 16 and a junior in high school, he currently studies violin with Lisa Humphrey and piano with Kim Bowman and has taken masterclasses with Jeffrey Gilliam, Peter Mac, Milica Jovanovic and Helena Azevedo on piano and Laura Camacho on violin. Eligh has been part of NSYS for 6 years as well as taking part in many other ensemble groups such as Bellingham Youth Chamber Players and Chamber Days at WWU. In 2022 he was awarded as Representative of the Bellingham Chapter for Washington State Music Teachers Association piano competition as well as placing 4th at the Bellingham Music Club’s piano competition. Most recently, Eligh was chosen as State Representative for the Solo and Ensemble competition on violin, won 2nd place at the BMC violin competition, and was chosen as Representative for the Bellingham Chapter WSMTA piano competition. When he’s not playing music, Eligh enjoys working out, writing, reading and studying in the Running Start program at WCC.