Caroline B. Nichols (1864–1939) was an American violinist, conductor and founder of the Fadette Ladies Orchestra (known as the

Fadettes of Boston The Fadettes of Boston (1888-ca.1920) was an all-women orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, and directed by Caroline B. Nichols. "The original group of six expanded to twenty by 1898"Judith Tick. "Women as Professional Musicians in the United ...

). Along with

Emma Roberto Steiner Emma Roberta Steiner (1856February 27, 1929) was an American composer and conductor. She was one of the first women in the United States to make a living from conducting, and did so at more than 6,000 performances during her lifetime. She was addi ...

, she is credited as one of the first women in the United States to make a successful career out of conducting musical performances. Nichols was a founding member of

Marion Osgood Marion Gilman Osgood (1859–c. 1948) was an American violinist, composer, and orchestra conductor. She established her own company, the Marion Osgood's Ladies Orchestra, which was the first ladies' orchestra organized for professional work in th ...

's Ladies Orchestra, and about four years later she became a founding member of the Fadettes of Boston in 1888, a

sextet A sextet (or hexad) is a formation containing exactly six members. The former term is commonly associated with vocal ensembles (e.g. The King's Singers, Affabre Concinui) or musical instrument groups, but can be applied to any situation where six ...

including

Ethel Atwood Ethel Atwood (September 12, 1870 – April 9, 1948) was an American musician and orchestra leader. With Caroline B. Nichols, she established the Fadette Ladies' Orchestra. Biography Born in Fairfield, Maine in 1870, her parents were Yankees. A ...

. She quickly rose from first violin to conductor as the small group became a chamber orchestra, assuming leadership in 1890. She led the Fadettes for more than thirty years. The group played and toured until 1920 and played more than 6000 concerts. As a child, she studied violin with Julius Eichberg, Leopold Lichtenberg, and

Charles Loeffler Charles Martin Tornov Loeffler (January 30, 1861 – May 19, 1935) was a German-born American violinist and composer. Family background Charles Martin Loeffler was born Martin Karl Löffler on January 30, 1861, in Schöneberg near Berlin to par ...

. Nichols eventually retired to Boston and trained orchestra members and was instrumental in helping women to be financially independent. She died in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

in 1939.

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References

1864 births 1939 deaths American conductors (music) American violinists American women violinists American women conductors (music) Founders of early music ensembles Women founders Women in Boston {{US-conductor-stub