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Conducts the Castle Singers (Mixed Chamber Ensemble) and Kantorei (Mixed Sacred)
Teaches Choral (7-12), General Music (K-6), and Voice Methods
Supervises student teachers and teaches Contemporary Issues in Music Education

Office: FAC 42

Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver serves Wartburg College as the associate director of choral activities and associate professor of music (vocal music education). She joined the faculty in 2014 and conducts both the Castle Singers and the St. Elizabeth Chorale. In addition, she teaches music methods courses, mentors future music educators in the Teacher Education Program, and supervises student teachers.

Toliver enjoyed a distinguished career in both public and private school systems in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona. Beyond the rehearsal room, she is an active church musician, adjudicator, clinician, and performer. She also serves on the Midwestern ACDA Resource and Repertoire Leadership group as the chair for SSAA ensembles and is the College and University chair for the Iowa Music Educators Association. Toliver’s primary area of research is systemic gender bias in the rehearsal room, and she is committed to cultivating leadership skills in her students, especially female teachers and conductors.

Toliver holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from North Dakota State University, a Master of Music in choral music education and conducting from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in vocal music education from Concordia College, Moorhead. She is grateful for the continuous love and support of her husband, Travis, and her twin boys, Carson and Tiegan.