Trevor Nicholas is a 2022 and 2023 Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist who works with Chicago high school students and professional musicians to create collaborative works of art that respond to real world events and experiences. One of Trevor’s greatest joys is to see purpose awakened in his students as they realize that their artistry can change and uplift the world around them. Early experiences of trauma led Trevor to develop an intimate connection with sound and music improvisation, which he draws upon to compose music with and for his ensembles. He believes that art-making can play a unique role in healing from the traumas of life. Trevor has led student ensembles to premiere works at Chicago venues such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Center, Millennium Park, the Harris Theater, and Wrigley Field. He has partnered with arts organizations to bring over $300,000 in grants, donations, and free music lessons to his Chicago Public Schools students over the past decade.Representing his students and colleagues from across Chicago, Trevor was honored twice as a Teacher of Excellence at Chicago Public Schools Board of Education Meetings in 2020 and 2022. He presented the internationally-recognized "Who Will Carry Me?" trauma-responsive virtual project, which was visibly moving to board members. He also used this platform to advocate for the city to invest more deeply in school arts programs so that every student has access to a quality arts education. As someone with Midwestern roots, Trevor holds a Bachelors of Music Education from North Park University in Chicago and a Masters of Arts in Music Education with a concentration in Choral Conducting from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He has had the joy of helping steer over $14 million in grants to creative classrooms across Chicago through his participation on Ingenuity Inc.’s Creative Schools Grant Review Panels.