Meet your teacher

Nicole Philbrick

Nikki started playing the violin over 25 years ago under the instruction of Janet Ault through her public school program in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. She quickly realized it would be a life-long pursuit (as much as any 8-year-old can realize such things) and took to playing as often as she could. In addition to continuing with her studies through the school orchestra program and the Preucil School of Music, Nikki attended numerous musical programs, including the Idaho Viola Camp (McCall, ID), the Red Cedar Chamber Music Summer Festival (Cedar Rapids, IA), Credo (Oberlin, OH), and numerous honor orchestras in her community. Nikki ultimately went on to earn Mount Vernon Community Schools “Oustanding Orchestral Musician” in 2006, and then to obtain a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Iowa, studying with Dr. Katherine Wolfe.  

After college, Nikki realized that what she really wanted to do was play fiddle in an Irish band. So, that she did! Nikki currently performs with Blame Not the Bard, an Irish band that tours the country, gracing the stages of numerous venues and festivals, including the Iowa Irish Fest and Kansas City Irish Fest. Nikki also performs with the contemporary Irish instrumental trio, Sorcha. In March of 2022, Nikki made her television debut when Blame Not the Bard was featured on the program “Greetings from Iowa” on Iowa PBS.  A lifelong learner, Nikki has continued her fiddle studies with Kiana June Weber.  

While she loves touring with the band, she realized that she has a passion for sharing what she has learned with young musicians across eastern Iowa.  To this end, she founded the JA Clair School of Music in March of 2020.  Inspired by Janet Ault’s generosity toward her students, Nikki made a decision that there would always be a pay-what-you-can class option available at JA Clair, thus ensuring that all students have an opportunity to participate. Now entering its fourth year, JA Clair School of Music is partnered with Music Works Iowa to expand their shared vision of building a community of musicians in Eastern Iowa. As a teacher, Nikki is also an in demand clinician, with recent workshops at the Iowa Irish Fest and her alma mater, Mount Vernon High School.

When Nikki isn’t busy performing with the bands, or serving as a performance consultant for Yume Dance Studio, she enjoys writing, drinking coffee, eating ice cream, and hanging out with her dogs, cat, and husband.