Bob Nicholson was the beloved guard director of the nationally-ranked JMHS band and guard program and instructor at James Madison High School. Bob was with the JMHS band/guard program for 17 years and was an instructional assistant at Madison for over 10 years. He supported many students in a variety of ways, including academic support during the school day and creative and artistic expression with the guard program.
Bob was highly regarded and well respected on a national level in the sport of guard. Since 1995, he was actively involved with the Atlantic Indoor Association which is a non-profit organization designed to support and encourage growth of students in the performing arts, including guard, percussion, and winds. Bob was inducted into the AIA Hall of Fame in March 2016. He was AIA President for six years and 1st Vice President for the AIA North Region. Bob was also actively involved with Winter Guard International which is a premier non-profit organization that produces indoor guard, percussion and winds competitions. WGI is like the BOA of indoor guard, percussion, and winds competitions. Bob taught at AIA and WGI clinics over the years and adjudicated many competitions.
Bob’s success in guard was evident at JMHS. Under his direction, the fall color guard and winter guard racked up awards and accolades every year. At fall marching competitions, the color guard consistently won the caption award for “Best Color Guard.” During the indoor season, JMHS Winter Guard won the Virginia state championship in 2014, 2015, 2016 and second place in 2017. In 2018, Mad Guard placed 4th at the Winter Guard International Regional Competition. The Guard won first place in their division at the 2019 AIA Regional Championship.
Bob’s vision and ingenuity will be sorely missed. He helped create much of the visual aspect of both the fall marching and winter indoor shows. He designed much of the color and movement of the marching shows and sewed many of the flags used by the color guard on the field. He understood the mechanics of dance, movement, and the skills necessary for a successful color guard and at the same time encouraged and guided his students to achieve their best.
Bob was an integral member of the JMHS band and guard family. He was kind, loyal to the program and his students, and a good friend to many. His absence will be keenly felt for years to come, and we will greatly miss him. Rest in peace, dear friend.