Her enthusiasm is palpable in lessons, and she works to help students find what makes them similarly excited about music. Through study of history, theory, composition, and improvisation, students learn about music from a variety of cultures and gain an understanding of where classical music fits into contemporary culture.

Nicole is passionate about collaborating with performers and composers to bring contemporary music to a wide range of audiences. She is a founder of the Semiosis Quartet, a string quartet that focuses on the music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Previously, she created and led The Lirica Chamber Ensemble to play rarely heard and new works for chamber orchestra.

She is currently the Acting-President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American String Teachers Association where she has created the Novice Division of the MA-ASTA Master’s competition to offer a low-pressure competition to students under the age of 13. Nicole is active as an orchestral performer in New England, and frequently performs with many of the area’s professional orchestras, including Odyssey Opera, the Monadnock Festival Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project and many others.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from St. Olaf College and a Master of Music and Professional Studies Certificate from The Boston Conservatory, where she studied violin performance and pedagogy with Sharan Leventhal.

When Nicole isn’t busy teaching, practicing, or performing, she enjoys spending time with her cats.