Leader

NLSO are delighted to welcome Kayla Nicol as our guest leader for the 2025-26 season.

Violinist Kayla Nicol studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Simon Blendis, where she is a recipient of the Elmira Darvarova Scholarship. During her time at Guildhall, Kayla has led the Opera conducted by Dominic Wheeler, co-led the Guildhall Studio Orchestra directed by Callum Au, and co-led the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall.

Kayla regularly freelances in London, performing with orchestras such as the Fidelio Orchestra and Orion Orchestra, and in 2024 she was the solo violinist in the West End musical Marie Curie. Outside of London she leads the North Sea Orchestra directed by Dr Susannah Self, and performs with the Cuore Chamber Orchestra conducted by William Dutton.

As a soloist Kayla has performed in masterclasses to Alina Ibragimova, Chloë Hanslip, Thomas Gould, Lucy Russell and Jess Gillam. She regularly performs in London and Guildhall solo recitals and has performed works such as Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s Invierno Porteño with orchestra. She has been awarded 1st place at the North London Music Festival in both solo and chamber categories on a few occasions, and is a past winner of the South East Schools Chamber Music Competition.

She previously studied with Vanessa David at Junior Guildhall, where she was leader of both the String Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, was a finalist in the annual Lutine Prize, and received the Principal’s Prize. Kayla has also been leader of the National Children’s Orchestra and co-principal of the National Youth String Orchestra.

Kayla is a member of the Albero Trio, formed at Guildhall in 2023, and is a member of the Fidelio Collective, who made their debut in January 2025 at the Fidelio Café London, premiering a new work by and performing with soloist Lucas Debargue.