Joining the Ensemble: Introducing New NIC Music Faculty-Cindy Dicken

North Idaho College has a nearly 100-year-long musical history, and Cindy Dicken, one of NIC’s newest music department faculty members, brings abundant knowledge and experience to contribute to this history.

Cindy Dicken, NIC’s new Director of Choirs, has been in the commercial music industry for almost 30 years. She started in Los Angeles, working her way up in the session music scene.

As a session singer, Dicken worked on commercials and demos for publishing houses, movies, and TV shows. Some of her over 50 commercial projects include films and TV shows like “Wall-E,” “X-Men,” “Indiana Jones,” “National Treasure,” “Meet the Robinsons,” “The Simpsons” and all 121 episodes of “Glee.”

In 2012, Dicken married and had her son. “It changed everything,” Dicken said. “The singing was great, and I really loved it. . . but I didn’t want to be one of those singers that was older, and the younger people were like ‘uh! we don’t want to work with her.”

So, Dicken and her family moved to Texas where she returned to school and got her undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas. She went on to receive a master’s degree in performance.

She spent several years collegiate teaching in Califonia at schools such as Santa Monica College and Fullerton College before changing directions. “I didn’t want to hustle anymore,” Dicken said.

Dicken and her family moved to Spokane Washington in 2022, and Dicken was offered a job as Director of Choirs here at NIC. “This really is a dream come true for me. This job.”

Dicken has since put her extensive musical experience into encouraging students and North Idaho community members to participate in music and strive for their musical goals. “I’m super grateful for that (industry music) experience so that I can speak to when (students) say “well could I ever?’ Well, ya I’m a kid from Seattle.

One of the first planned concerts where NIC students can view Dicken’s work as teacher and conductor is, “The Fall Choral Invitational Festival Concert” on October 1 in the Schuler Auditorium.

Dicken runs most of the NIC choirs including what she calls a “y’all come choir.” This choir is on Tuesday nights from 7-10 p.m., open to students and community members, and is meant to accommodate all levels and age groups.

If any NIC students or community members are interested in learning music from accomplished faculty like Dicken, music courses are available every semester and require no previous experience. Grant money is also available to eligible students interested in music courses. “We just want the campus to know that we’re here,” Dicken said, “There is a place for you.”