Teacher Talks: Angelina Nicholas

Get ready for another great teacher interview, this time with one of our longtime staff, Angelina Nicholas! We sat down to chat with Angelina to talk all about music, theatre, favorite vocalists, and more! Learn more about Angelina below!

Question: Hi Angelina! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Angelina: Hi! My name is Angelina and I am a voice, piano, and general music instructor here at LCMS! I occasionally teach flute, as well. I’ve been teaching with Loud & Clear for 7 years, which is wild! I also work at a local preschool during the day. Outside of work, you can find me reading, enjoying theater (whether I’m on stage or in the audience!), and spending time with my husband, Nathan, and our cat, Stella. You can also often find me daydreaming about being at Disney or hanging with my niece and nephew!

Q: Who are some of your musical inspirations?

A: As a vocalist, there are lots of people I’ve looked up to and admired. There’s so many vocalists who come from different genres that I love. If we’re talking pop rock/rock/alternative, I’d say standouts for me are Hayley Williams of Paramore, Amy Lee of Evanescence, and Cassadee Pope. Pop musicians, definitely Demi Lovato, Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, and within the past couple of years, Renee Rapp! When it comes to theater…where do I even begin? Carrie Hope Fletcher, Sierra Boggess, Kerry Butler, Bonnie Milligan…the list truly could go on forever! In the opera world, I’ve always admired Cecilia Bartoli and Joyce DiDonato. I could talk about singers forever!!

Q: What are some of your favorite performances you’ve done?

A: Oh, I love this question! My second time performing in Into the Woods is one I always think back on. I played The Witch, which was so much fun! Lots of fond memories from the show, but also two of my current students were cast alongside me in that show, but they were just little middle schoolers at the time (one is now graduated and the other a senior!). I also really enjoyed being in Footloose with some of my best friends, as well as playing Ursula in The Little Mermaid! I’ve been lucky to be in multiple shows that I’ve adored.

Q: Who is your favorite composer and why?

A: It’s super basic and lame, but I love Mozart compositions. As a singer, I’ve always loved singing his material! There’s just something so fun about his arias and art songs. I also have been in two Mozart operas, Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) and Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), so there’s some bias. I also love the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim in the world of musical theatre. Webber’s work is more sentimental to me than anything, but it can be really fun (and challenging) material! In my opinion, Sondheim created so many beautiful works of art, one of my favorites being Into the Woods, that really make you think about life and how we perceive it. His music is also incredibly fun to sing, especially humorous songs, like Sunday in the Park With George (Sunday in the Park With George), A Little Priest (Sweeney Todd), and Agony (Into the Woods).

Q: Why do you think music education is so important?

A: Music education is so important! It enhances critical thinking, and problem-solving, improves memory, encourages creativity…I could go on and on. I find it important because it truly encourages young minds to dare to be different and creative. Many students, like myself, found a safe space within the arts, and without music education, I wouldn’t be who I am today. It’s also so cool to see how music education impacts everyone differently, especially those who want to go on to have a career in music versus those who take a more “traditional” career patch but still are thankful for their time in the arts. Music is just such an incredible outlet for so many. Did you know that OSU’s marching band isn’t mostly made up of music majors? One would think it’s nearly all music kids. But really, engineering students typically outnumber all other majors in the band! 

Q: Did music come naturally to you or did it take time?

A: I don’t think it came to me naturally, but some things seemed easier to me. I think reading music and understanding music theory always felt more natural and made sense. I started playing flute in 5th grade and I definitely practiced that a lot and made sure I was making progress. Eventually, I became the first chair of the flute section, played piccolo, and even performed a piccolo solo in a higher class than the rest of my peers. When it comes to voice, it definitely took me a while to adapt. I was trained in classical (bel canto) and it was very different at first, but I really focused on my craft and got to where I am now. 

Q: What do you like to do outside of music?

A: Not sure if this counts as outside of music or not, but I love theatre! I love performing on stage but also musically directing and watching it! One of my best friends and I buy a season subscription every year to Playhouse Square to see the national tours that come through Cleveland! I also love reading! I don’t have a favorite genre, but I love reading all sorts of books. I’m very excited to read The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart when it’s released next month! 

Q: If you could collaborate with any band or performer, who would it be and why?

A: That’s a tough one! Secretly, my dream has always been to perform in a girl group (which I did for a hot second), but maybe a group like Little Mix or even pulling together some of my favorite female singers! I also would love to sing with various professional musical theatre performers…maybe a duet with Jonathan Groff or Carrie Hope Fletcher? As much as my heart wants to say bands like Paramore or All Time Low, I do not have the voice to work with them haha.

Q: If you could learn any instrument besides your own, what would it be?

A: I’d love to learn guitar or drums! I tried to teach myself guitar a while back and it didn’t go as planned. I’m not very patient when it comes to my own personal progress! Drumming also amazes me because it’s so intense! I feel like it would just be all my appendages flailing around! I wish I could be a cool drummer chick like Jess Bowen of The Summer Set.

Q: What are some personal goals you have as a musician?

A: There are many goals I have for myself, but I’ll just share a few. I’d love to hit an E6 somewhat consistently while singing so I can successfully sing Christine’s part in “The Phantom of the Opera”. I’d also love to play one of my dream roles! I have a couple that I’d love to play: Jane Seymour in SIX, Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and any Disney Princess in a Disney Musical! 

Q: Last but not least! If you could meet any composer and/or singer dead or alive, who would it be?

A: Man, another hard one! As for someone who has passed, I’d want to meet Freddie Mercury and just get to know him and study his vocal habits and mannerisms because he is so iconic! But if we’re talking about someone alive…hmmm, probably Carrie Hope Fletcher! I know I’ve mentioned her quite a lot, but she’s one of those singers that I feel like I could vibe with as a friend and musician! Actually, one of my best friends met her while stage-doing for Cinderella over in London!

Thank you Angelina for taking the time to talk with us! We hope you’ve enjoyed this Teacher Talk and we look forward to our next one. Is there a teacher you’d like to see next? Let us know!