Mollie Nichols

Mollie Nichols’ organ playing has been described as “vibrant” by the New York Times. Recipient of two organ performance degrees and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, her primary teachers were Russell Saunders, Squire Haskin, and Norma Bertalomi Sapp. Active as a performer, teacher, and conductor, she has performed on organ artist series throughout the United States and conducted ensembles at many notable venues including Canterbury Cathedral, Christ Church, Oxford, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Merkin Hall. Ms. Nichols has served as Head of the Music Department at the Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City and as organist and choral director of the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale with Cantors Stephen Merkel and Jill Abrahamson. She was appointed Director of Music and Organist at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City in 1988 where she cultivates a diverse program including Jazz Vespers, a chant-based Night Prayer service, Sunday concert series, Royal School of Church Music based youth choral program which has toured both in the United States and England, a handbell choir, and an adult semi-professional choir. In addition to her activities as an organist, pianist, and conductor, Ms. Nichols is a contributor to professional publications, has served on the Executive Board of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and was Coordinator for Worship for a National AGO Centennial Convention held in New York. Ms. Nichols is recorded on “Great Organs of New York”, B & V Recordings. She is active as an organ and piano instructor, enjoys developing new liturgies that serve the changing church, and enjoys playing the harp as a hobby. She lives in Riverdale, New York.