Hayes School of Music

Dr. Nicholas Cline is an assistant professor of music composition and theory in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. Dr. Cline is dedicated to his work as a music educator striving to develop his students’ technical abilities, introduce them to new ideas, challenge them to question their assumptions, and encourage the cultivation of their individual voices.

Dr. Cline makes music for voices, acoustic instruments, and by electroacoustic means. Deeply influenced by the natural world, his music draws on a broad range of subjects and experiences with the belief that music reveals, challenges, and shapes the listener’s understanding of the world. Recent projects include collaborating with the Grammy award-winning choir The Crossing in a performance of his work, Watersheds, for 24 voices, tenor saxophone, and live electronics - released on Motion Studies on Navona Records.

He has been commissioned by and collaborated with numerous choirs, including The Crossing, Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, Stare at the Sun, William Ferris Chorale, Constellation Men's Ensemble, Voices 21C, Roots in the Sky, New Earth Ensemble, and Common Ground Voices/La Frontera. His music has been performed by Spektral Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble VONK, Northwestern Contemporary Music Ensemble, Jeff Siegfried, Jena Gardner, Square Peg Round Hole, and F-Plus. Dr. Cline was artist-in-residence with High Concept Labs and the Chicago Park District. His music is published by E.C. Schirmer and released on Navona, Ravello, and SEAMUS recording labels. 

Dr. Cline holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Northwestern University. He earned a Master of Music from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music from Columbia College Chicago. For more information about Dr. Cline’s works, recordings, and performances please visit his website: www.nicholas-cline.com