Before Sarah Nichols started playing cello in fifth grade, she was already a self-taught violinist and had taken instruction in piano.

The Dartmouth High senior will join the Boston Conservatory next fall, following a 15-year music career that includes experience with the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra and Acushnet Classic Ensemble.

In the living room of Nichols' Padanaram home, her mother Diana Nichols recalled how the now 18 year old would keep the beat to her mother's humming as an infant in a high chair.

"Sarah was born musically inclined. You and I hear a doorbell. Sarah hears an A sharp," said Diana.

During the four-year program, Nichols will major in cello performance, which includes classes in music history, theory, and piano, she explained. But Nichols' music education began at age three, when she took up piano.

"I played 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' at my preschool graduation," Nichols recalled of her first concert. By second grade, she was inspired by her sister to take up another instrument.

"I decided to teach myself violin," she said, explaining that her sister Molly — who is two and a half years older — played violin. "We were close growing up. We used to tell people we were twins," Nichols continued.

By third grade, Nichols joined the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra, which was just starting out, as a violinist.

"At the time I didn't know how important it was. But seeing where it was and where it is now is so cool!" Nichols said. She's been with the group for the past nine years. The orchestra accepts students until they're 21 years of age.

In fifth grade, Nichols decided to mix it up.

"At that point, I had the option to play strings," she said. While Molly had moved on to viola, which her cousin Alexandra also played, Nichols was drawn to a different instrument.

"I've always loved cello," Nichols said. "It's how deep a voice it is. It's not like violin, which is so high. You can listen to cello all day and not get bored. You can express all types of emotions with it. It's so nice and rich."

Nichols picked up the instrument easily, due to her ability to read music. She stopped playing violin with the youth orchestra, and instead played cello for it. She earned first chair by sixth grade, and has held it since.

"I don't get nervous. I kind of just do it," said Nichols about performing. "Knowing you can make people feel with music, it's a feeling like no other."

When asked where she gets her interest in music, Nichols was at a loss. She explained that she'd tried tennis, horseback riding, and tap, but nothing stuck like music. Diana explained that she herself had studied chemistry, and had no musical talent to share.

Despite Dartmouth's athletics-driven attitude, the Nichols family found support with the area's music programs, Diana said.

"Miss [Heather] Church and Miss [Charlene] Monte have given [Sarah] so many opportunities and so much support. There are kids who are never going to major in math and science. Without the music program, Sarah's life would've been miserable," said Diana.

Church and Monte run the orchestra program through Dartmouth Public Schools. They recently invited California-based composer Soon Hee Newbold to lead the students in a string concert.

"I debuted one of Soon Hee's pieces for [the Acushnet Classic Ensemble], and I liked her music. Every single person has a really awesome part," said Nichols, explaining that none of the instruments dominant the stage, but rather, the viola, cello, bass, and violin parts are equally challenging.

When Nichols isn't playing music, she's listening to it, she said. Among her favorites are the Zac Brown Band, Beyonce, and Whitney Houston, but Nichols doesn't limit herself to those genres.

"My all time favorite is Frank Sinatra. Heavy, heavy influence. It's a weird range of music when you're going from Frank Sinatra to [hip hop artist] 21 Savage, but it's what I like," she said.

Looking forward, Nichols knows she'll excel in Boston.

"I haven't grown up with a lot of music people. I know I'm going to fit right in because they love music as much as I do," she said. Nichols added that she had the chance to learn under the Conservatory's cello instructors — Andrew Mark and Rhonda Rider — last summer.

"I love the way [Mark] taught," she said.

Following college, Nichols plans to keep performing.

"Performing is my thing. People always say I put so much emotion when I play. I think that's where I'm going to be, a solo performer," she said. She plans to travel the world as an artist.

Long-term goals include performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Nichols added.

Sarah Nichols performs the Bach prelude.