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 varied freelance orchestral career in the UK. The camaraderie of music-making is something that Nicolette particularly enjoys; notable groups she has performed with include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Southbank Sinfonia, Waterperry Opera, Orchestre de Cymru, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and Opera Upclose. She feels extremely fortunate to have performed in some of the UK's most prestigious venues, such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, St John's Smith Square and St Martin in the Fields; and also to have done session recording in Abbey Road Studios.
Nicolette attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she won every harp prize available to her. This included the Skaila Kanga Harp Prize, the 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.
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).
Nicolette's performances have brought her to all corners of the world: highlights include a lecture-recital at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, a featured performance as a young artist at the World Harp Congress in Hong Kong, and various orchestral tours abroad. She has also performed for numerous masterclasses for internationally renowned harpists including Anneleen Lenearts, Alexander Boldachev, Isabelle Moretti, Marisa Robles and Catrin Finch.
When she is not performing, Nicolette has been enjoying teaching the harp privately at her home studio in West London. She currently teaches a wide range of ages and abilities, with students playing either the lever or concert grand (pedal) harp.
