Abstract: A turbine nozzle vane segment includes one or more nozzle vanes extending between radially inner and outer side walls, each nozzle vane having a peripheral edge wall extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the vane. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one substantially radially-oriented cooling channel is formed in the peripheral edge wall at the leading edge, with openings at opposite ends of the cooling channel. The location and length of the cooling channels may vary about the peripheral edge wall, and the inner cavity of the vane may be provided with ribs extending along and adjacent the one or more cooling channels to reinforce the wall and to also provide additional cooling surface areas in the inner cavity.