Nicolette is a highly sought-after London-based harpist. An avid chamber and orchestral performer, she has several international prizes to her name and enjoys a busy and varied freelance orchestral career in the UK. The camaraderie of music-making is something that Nicolette particularly enjoys, having developed a love for orchestral playing during her time studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Groups she has made appearances with include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, London Concertante, Waterperry Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English Sinfonia, Brighton Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. She feels extremely fortunate to have performed at some of the UK's most prestigious venues such as the Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Opera House, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall and St Martin in the Fields. Her performances have been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and has made appearances as an orchestral player at major music festivals around Europe, most notably including the BBC Proms.
Nicolette is particularly excited by the travelling opportunities that being a harpist brings: music-making has brought her to all corners of the world. She has also toured internationally - to mainland Europe, China, the US, Australia, Malaysia, India and Israel - with numerous orchestras and chamber music groups.
In addition to orchestral playing, Nicolette has also enjoyed performing in the pit as a deputy for musical theatre productions. Recent shows she has played for include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (UK tour), Box of Delights (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Thursford: A Christmas Spectacular. Outside of the pit, Nicolette has also undertaken session recording and filming work, most notably at Abbey Road Studios. Recent solo appearances include a concerto with the Oxford and Cambridge Musical Society and the Kent Philharmonic, as well as a shared chamber music recital as part of the Chineke Foundation series with flutist Daniel Shao.
Nicolette attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she won many of its harp prizes. This included the department Skaila Kanga Harp Prize and Guy Magrath Harp Prize, and the Renata Scheffel-Stein Harp Prize for the top postgraduate harp result. Having won a full scholarship from the Loke Cheng Kim Foundation, she obtained a Bachelors of Music (first class hons) under the tutelage of Catherine White. Subsequently (with generous support from HelpMusicians UK, Rainer and Doreen and TrailBlazer Foundation) she obtained a Master of Arts (Distinction) and Professional Diploma, studying with former London Symphony Orchestra co-principal harpist Karen Vaughan and was consequently awarded a DipRAM for an outstanding final recital. During her studies, she also won numerous national/international harp prizes, including: twice runner-up of the Camac Harp Prize in London, 3rd prize at the Szeged International Harp contest and also was very proud to be the first ever Singaporean harpist selected to compete in the USA International Harp Competition (and reached the quarterfinal).
Since graduating, further orchestral training includes being selected as harp fellow for the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Foyle Future Firsts scheme for its 2022-2023 season, and for the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme (Orchestra).
When she is not performing, Nicolette has been enjoying teaching the harp privately at her home studio in West London, as well as being a peripatetic music teacher at Godstowe Preparatory School in High Wycombe. She currently teaches a wide range of ages and abilities, with students playing either the lever or concert grand (pedal) harp.