Nicola Hicks

MusB (Manchester) MMus (RNCM) MMus (PSU) Ppc (PSU)

​

Viola player Nicola Hicks has performed regularly in chamber ensembles, orchestras, and as a soloist in the United States and United Kingdom. Nicola’s orchestral engagements include performances at the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre with the Chineke! Orchestra, Symphony Hall with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Lincoln Center, New York City with the Penn State University Chamber Orchestra. Nicola’s chamber ensemble, the Simple String Quintet, won the 2014-15 Southard Music Competition at the University of Northern Colorado and performed at numerous prestigious events including a concert at the Lone Tree Arts Center, Colorado. 

​

As well as traditional repertoire, Nicola has explored non-classical genres and experimental compositions that combine instrumental performance with electronics, visual arts, and graphic scores.

​

Nicola is a dedicated teacher of both the violin and viola. Experienced at teaching all ages and abilities, she has previously been the Viola Teaching Assistant at Pennsylvania State University and University of Northern Colorado. Nicola has also taught viola on Sistema England’s residential programme and she has been a viola mentor for Chineke! Junior Orchestra. She has experience as a full-time instrumental teacher for a music specialist academy school in Central London and she is also a member of the North London Music Academy teaching team. She is currently Head of Strings at a boarding school in the North of England. Nicola directs and teaches on London String School workshops.

​

Nicola endeavours to inspire students to develop their own desire to learn and listen. She accommodates the specific needs of individual students whilst motivating them to achieve their best. Much of Nicola's teaching style is influenced by her own principal professors who included Dr. Louise Lansdown (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), and Dr. Timothy Deighton (Pennsylvania State University).