Dr. Michael Nickens
Dr. Michael W. Nickens (a.k.a. Doc Nix) is most recognizable as the leader of George Mason University “Green Machine”, which the NCAA named the #1 pep band in college basketball in 2015, and was commended by the Senate and House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, Dr. Nickens launched Mason’s fife and drum corps and WGI world-champion drumline, and oversees Mason’s WGI world-champion winterguard. This collection of performing units, known as the “Green Machine Ensembles”, are internationally known for their thrilling, high-energy performances at university ceremonies and basketball games, professional sports events including the 10th Anniversary of GMU’s Korea campus, the 2019 World Series and 2018 MLB All- Star Weekend, alongside 4-time Grammy winner Lady A, with GRiZ, community events (the White House Easter Egg Roll, Celebrate Fairfax, and the Nike Womens’ Half Marathon), and marching competitions, as well as their popular internet videos with over 120 million views collectively.
Having joined the faculty of Mason’s School of Music in fall 2006, he has taught courses in sight-singing/ear training, popular music, improvisation, marching band methods, brass methods, applied tuba and euphonium, composition, chamber music, and jazz, as well as instructional and artistic collaborations with Mason’s School of Dance. He has been director of Mason’s Brass ensemble, and co-director of Mason’s Symphonic Band and the Mason Modern Music Ensemble (M3E). Additionally, Dr. Nickens co-lead Mason’s interdisciplinary “Activist-Artist” course module. Furthermore, he co-founded the Colonial Athletic Association’s intercollegiate pep band showcase.
During summers, he has taught tuba and euphonium, conducting, jazz performance, composition, improvisation, chamber music, large ensemble performance, and music theory at the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania, the Music, Art, and Theatre (MAT) Camp in Evanston, Wyoming, and the Northern Arizona University Music Camp in Flagstaff, Arizona, and at Mason’s Community Arts Academy. He also coached the professional marching ensemble, “Mix It Up”, at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. He spent 2023 as a Low Brass Consultant and tuba instructor for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Dr. Nickens's compositions have received world premieres by Carol Jantsch, The U.S. Army Blues, The U.S. Marine Corps Band “The President’s Own” Jazz Combo, and the George Mason University Wind Symphony, as well as performances and recordings by Andrew Hitz, Matthew Murchison, Thomas Allely, Jazzie Pigott Thacker, The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (Brisbane, Australia) and ensembles at University of Michigan, The University of Wisconsin, The University of Georgia, The University of Maryland, Curtis Institute of Music, and Yale University.
As a performer, Dr. Nickens's ensemble, "this little abomination of ours (t.l.a.o.o.)” was featured in the Wolf Trap National Park For the Performing Arts 2020 Park Pop Up series. He has appeared as a featured guest soloist with The US Army Blues, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, The American Festival Pops Orchestra, The George Mason University Jazz Ensemble, and has been a substitute member of the National Symphony Orchestra accompanying Hip-Hop legend Nas on the concert version of “Illmatic.”
Dr. Nickens completed his academic degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, the University of Michigan. With his degree conferred In 2006, Dr. Nickens is among the first African Americans to earn a doctorate in tuba performance.