After completing a Bachelor of Music Degree with Honours at the University of Otago, majoring in piano and voice, Nicola moved to Wellington where she graduated with a Masters Degree in voice from Victoria University. In 2000 Nicola relocated to Den Haag, Netherlands, to continue her studies and spent three years at the Koninklijk Conservatorium studying with Marius van Altena, Rita Dams, and Kristina Deutekom.
While based in Holland, Nicola performed with many choirs and ensembles, including the International Vocal Academy Den Haag, and Il Concerto Barocco, Amsterdam. As a member of the baroque ensemble Quintus, Nicola was a prizewinner at the Johann Heinrich Schmeltzer Competition, Austria in 2002. She has performed throughout Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Holland and given solo recitals at the Early Music Festivals in Barcelona, Spain, and Innsbruck, Austria.
Nicola has sung many operatic roles, including Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Dido (Dido and Aeneas) and Madame Goldentrill (The Impressario) and The Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute).
Since returning to New Zealand in 2003, Nicola has been in demand as a soloist and a teacher, with performances including Monteverdi Vespers 1610 with Bach Musica New Zealand, Handel's Messiah with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and most recently Samson with the Auckland Choral Society.
Nicola teaches music to children and adults, and is also delighted to be the director of Lyrica, the Kelburn Normal School Choir in Wellington.