Directors and Staff

Nicole Sherlock is a dedicated and passionate music educator with thirty years of experience revitalizing and leading instrumental music programs across the United States. With both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education, Nicole has taught at every grade level—elementary, middle, and high school—in states as varied as Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Maryland.
Nicole’s teaching philosophy centers on high expectations and creativity to engage all learners. She uses inclusive practices to meet students where they are, tailoring instruction to diverse needs. Nicole also fosters student leadership, encouraging musicians to take ownership of their growth. This approach creates a supportive environment that inspires confidence and excellence both musically and personally.

Nicole’s career has been shaped by her adaptability and initiative. As a Marine Corps spouse, frequent relocations brought her to diverse school communities, each with its own challenges and opportunities. At every stop, she built or transformed programs: from tripling orchestra enrollment in Virginia to guiding an award-winning jazz ensemble in Maryland, to creating the first competitive marching band at Radford High School in Hawaii. Her programs have earned superior ratings, garnered community recognition, and secured tens of thousands of dollars in grant funding under her leadership.

While at Rockville High School in Maryland, Nicole directed multiple ensembles, including concert bands, jazz ensemble, percussion, orchestra and digital music classes, and developed strong feeder patterns by collaborating with elementary and middle school music colleagues. Her jazz program became regionally known, performing at festivals, adjudications, and prestigious venues like Baltimore’s Keystone Korner, and even working with jazz great Emmet Cohen in masterclass settings.
At Radford High School in Hawaii, Nicole’s vision led to sweeping program growth. She helped launch strings programs across elementary schools, secured funding for instruments, and created a 501(c)(3) organization to support music education. Upon returning to Radford after several years away, she witnessed firsthand how her earlier work had taken root, now forming the foundation for middle and high school orchestra and choir offerings.

In every community she’s served, Nicole has been an advocate for music education and an active partner to fellow educators. In Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, she organized district-wide professional development for music teachers and fostered a supportive network for under-resourced schools. In Virginia, she contributed to curriculum design aligned with national music standards and served as a judge, clinician, and guest conductor.
Nicole is thrilled to be joining the music team at Sunlake High School as Associate Director, where she looks forward to contributing to a tradition of excellence and continuing to help students grow as musicians and individuals.
Outside the classroom, Nicole is a wife and mother. She has been married for 27 years to her husband, Bryan, a retired Assistant Director with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. Together, they have a daughter, Adele, who is 20 and a mass communications major at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.