Meet Margaret Nicholson | Vocalist, Pianist & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaret Nicholson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve loved singing and making music for as long as I can remember, and my mom tells me I used to perform in front of our fridge in my diaper and “fancy shoes.” I’ve seen the pictures and it’s quite a sight! Making music has always been my favorite thing to do, and I started out in school and community choirs when I was in 3rd grade and have been involved in vocal ensembles every year since. My passion only grew from there, as I took piano and voice lessons, dabbled in musical theatre, and sang with the school’s bands.
It had always been a dream of mine to have a career in music, and by the end of high school and the start of college, that dream felt achievable. Since then, I haven’t taken my foot off the gas. What I love most about a creative career is the constant opportunity to grow and learn, as well as the chance to work with other creatives. I’m so grateful to collaborate with incredible musicians and mentors each day, and there’s nothing else I could imagine that would fulfill me more than making and sharing music.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I fell in love with music because of its incredible power to connect people. It’s such a universal medium — it doesn’t require any shared background or identity to create something truly beautiful. That ability to bring people together is what inspires me. I try to share my authentic self through every performance, aiming to connect with and bring joy to my audience. Whether interpreting timeless standards or performing originals, my music blends emotional honesty with a rich, bluesy tone.

I’ve had the chance to perform across Jazz, Classical, Pop, Commercial, Brazilian, and Afro-Caribbean styles — and I love them all. Each genre has taught me something different and enriched my musical expression. Lately, I’ve been focusing more on writing original music, which is really exciting for me. I’m preparing to release a new single soon and am working on expanding my reach beyond the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

I began singing classical and choral music, but over the past few years, I decided to explore jazz and contemporary styles. Learning the traditions of jazz has been incredibly fun and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning and growing in this field. My journey hasn’t been easy and the music world tests you constantly. One important lesson I’ve learned is that every artist is on their own journey. It’s easy to compare yourself to others and feel like you’re behind, but I’ve come to a beautiful place of acceptance with that. Right now, I’m all about collaborating with as many people as I can and supporting other artists who share their true selves through music. It’s a wonderful community to be part of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting, we would start in Denton! There are great places with live music at Steve’s Wine Bar, Pascall Bar, and occasionally Queenie’s Steakhouse. I also lived in Fort Worth for a bit and love it there. We would head to Fort Worth next and visit Scat Jazz Lounge, WineHaus, Sundance Square, and for some non-musical fun, the Stockyards!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I want to shout out for pouring their time and love into my voice, but first and most important: my mom. She has supported me like no other, never missing a performance and letting the constant sound of my singing and piano fill our house without complaint. She is the strongest woman I know and has given me every opportunity she could to make my life in music possible.
Building on that foundation of love and support, I would also like to thank mentors and teachers who’ve shaped me. Early on, Mark Baker helped lay the foundation for my technique, and Jesse Woolery was the mentor who first encouraged me to pursue jazz. Most recently, I’d like to thank Jennifer Barnes, Rosana Eckert, and Jose Aponte for their mentorship and immense knowledge.

Instagram: @margaret_nicholson_

Facebook: @margaretnicholsonmusic

Youtube: @MargaretNicholson-music

Image Credits
Quinn and Anna Cameron
Brenda Turrubiarte