In 2021-2022, Nicola opens the Barbican Centre’s season and amongst others, collaborates with the London Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Cincinnati Symphony. Other season highlights include engagements with LA Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, play-directing with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and tours to Spain with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Asia with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In April 2021 Nicola gave the world premiere of Mark Simpson’s Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda – receiving critically acclaimed reviews. Nicola is also a devoted chamber musician and collaborates with cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk, who have been performing as a trio since 2008. Past performances include Wigmore Hall, London, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Edinburgh International Festival, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Ravinia Festival, 92nd Street Y, New York and City Hall, Hong Kong.

Winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at both 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola records exclusively for Decca (Universal Music). Her most recent recording of a new Baroque album entered at number one in the UK’s Official Classical Album Chart and received critical acclaim including a 5* review in The Times. Other recent recordings include her GRAMMY award-winning album written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin. Nicola’s recording catalogue also includes works from Shostakovich & Glazunov Violin Concertos to Szymanowski Concerto (London Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Harding) to Homecoming; A Scottish Fantasy, which made Nicola the first solo British violinist since the 1990s to enter the Top 20 of the Official UK Album Chart. In 2021 BBC Music Magazine named her ‘Personality of the Year’ for her online support of many young musicians during the pandemic. Through the Benedetti Foundation, her Virtual Sessions delivered three weeks of online courses to players of all ages and standards, published over 300 videos, delivered 64 live Zoom sectionals to around 1,900 musicians a week in 66 countries and gave 30 live sessions.

Nicola was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours list, awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2017, the youngest ever recipient, and was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2013 in recognition of her international music career and work with musical charities throughout the United Kingdom. In addition, Nicola has received nine honorary degrees to date.

Nicola plays the Gariel Stradivarius (1717), courtesy of Jonathan Moulds.