Nina Cole Garguilo

Originally from Memphis, Dr. Nina Cole Garguilo serves as the Director of Choirs and Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Glendale Community College. She has been performing, teaching, lecturing, and leading vocal & choral workshops in the Phoenix area since 2011. In 2012, she began work as a professional chorister with the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale. Winning ‘Best Choral Performance’ on the album Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil, Nina also shared in the 2015 Grammy Award. Her passion for the vocal arts grew from her earliest experiences in all-state and national honor choir, to her involvement in collegiate groups including UM’s Chamber Choir, Mississippi Early Music Ensemble, Opera Chorus, and Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to her Choral experience, she frequently performs solo works. Most recently, Nina was the soprano soloist in the complete performance of Handel’s Messiah with Arizona Musicfest. In 2018, she received second place prize in the Phoenix Opera’s Southwest Vocal Competition, and later performed as Sarah in Harrower Opera’s Ballad of Baby Doe. She has performed roles including Baby Doe (Ballad of Baby Doe) Despina (Così fan tutte) Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), and Maria (West Side Story). In the summer of 2013, Nina sang the title role in Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank at the Mittelsächsisches Theater in Freiberg, Germany. Nina is in her eighth season with Helios: a Modern Renaissance, where she seeks further exploration and artistic expression in early music. She has been teaching throughout the Greater Phoenix Area since 2012. Nina loves helping singers of all ages and abilities, and aims to inspire confidence in her students, whether they be learning new vocal techniques or collaborating with others.