Born in Perth, Australia, Nicola is one of the most sought after historical clarinet players of her generation. She obtained her Bachelor of Music with first class honors from the University of Western Australia and during her studies she began to play with the Australian Chamber Orchestra both on modern and historical clarinet. She completed her Masters in historical performance at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague with Eric Hoeprich.
Based in Gent, Belgium, she tours and records extensively, and is principal clarinet with Ensemble Pygmalion (R Pichon) l’Orchestre des Champs Élysées(Ph.Herreweghe), Constellation Orchestra (J.E.Gardiner) and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique / English Baroque Soloists.
Nicola has recently been appointed as principal clarinet with the Orchestra of the 18th Century.
She is regularly invited as guest principal with Freiburger Barockorchester, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Concerto Copenhagen, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra....
As a chamber musician, Nicola collaborates with Kristian Bezuidenhout, Anthony Romaniuk,Cambini and Edding Quartets, and Ensemble Marsyas amongst others, and has performed in recital at many prestigious festivals including Edinburgh International Festival, Bruges Musica Antiqua Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Accademia delle Crete Senesi, and at venues such as BOZAR Brussels,, Amsterdam Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, and Wigmore Hall.
In 2025 she did a national recital tour for Musica Viva Australia.
Nicola has recorded the Mozart clarinet quintet with the Edding Quartet and the Schubert Octet with Northernlight both to critical acclaim. More recently she released an album of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas with pianist Anthony Romaniuk. Forthcoming releases include the Mozart Clarinet concerto with Gli Angeli.
As soloist she has performed concerti in Europe and Asia with the l’Orchestre des Champs Eysées, Academy of Ancient Music, Concerto Copenhagen, and Il Gardellino in venues such as the Theatre Des Champs Elysées in Paris, The Megaron in Athens and at the Barbican Centre in London.
A dedicated educator, Nicola was professor of historical clarinet at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP) from 2021-2024 and is currently professor of historical clarinet at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.