Nicole Marane, DMA Australian-born Nicole Marane (DMA) is the Director of Music Ministries at the First United Methodist Church of Marietta. Nicole graduated with her Doctorate of Musical Arts (Organ Performance and Literature) from the Eastman School of Music, where she was a student of renowned organist Professor David Higgs. Nicole completed her Master of Music at Eastman and held graduate assistantships in the Harpsichord and Sacred Music programs. She served as David Higgs’ Teaching Assistant and received a Graduate Teaching Assistant Prize for excellence in teaching. Nicole earned her undergraduate degree with First Class Honors at Australian National University.
A versatile musician, Nicole has had the opportunity to inspire many students as a music teacher and has also toured as an orchestral clarinetist in both Japan and Italy. Nicole earned first prize in two major competitions: the Miami International Organ Competition and the John Rodland Memorial Scholarship Competition for church musicians. An accomplished performer, Nicole has performed and presented solo organ recitals throughout the world, including at prestigious venues such as St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), St. Giles’ Cathedral (Edinburgh), Grace Cathedral (San Francisco), St. James Cathedral (Toronto), St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue (New York City), Sydney Town Hall and Melbourne Town Hall (Australia).
She has been an active member of the American Guild of Organists for over a decade, directing the Committee on “Pipe Organ Encounters” (the AGO’s most successful outreach program) and most recently serving on National Council as the Councillor for Conventions.
