Nickolas Carlson

Nickolas Carlson serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Martin's University. He concurrently holds key musical leadership roles including Music Director and Conductor of the Olympia Chamber Orchestra, Director of Music Ministries at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in Olympia, WA, and Staff Accompanist at Saint Martin's University.

His academic credentials feature:

• Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Wichita State University (2016) under Dr. Mark Laycock
• Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Bethany College under Dr. Melody Steed
• Additional training through masterclasses with Dianne Wittry, Anna Edwards, and Roupen Shakarian

Carlson's expertise centers on orchestral conducting and organ performance, with demonstrated specialization in collaborative piano and sacred music contexts. His guest conducting engagements with the Bethany College/Lindsborg Community Orchestra, Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra, and Chehalis Seventh Day Adventist Messiah Sing-Along reveal consistent focus on community-based musical interpretation across classical and liturgical repertoires.

No scientific awards or research grants are documented in available sources. While his faculty position suggests potential student mentorship, no specific advisees are listed in institutional records.

He maintains active leadership in musical ensembles including the Olympia Chamber Orchestra (where he serves as Music Director/Conductor) and The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd's music program, demonstrating integrated engagement with both academic and community performance ecosystems.