Kayla Nicol is a violinist studying 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 summer Opera 2025 and co-led both the Guildhall Studio Orchestra and the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall. Kayla is a member of the Albero Trio established at Guildhall in 2023 who perform regularly in and around London including the Cambridge Summer Music Festival and were recently awarded first prize at the North London Festival 2026. Kayla is also a member of the Fidelio Collective, who made their debut in January 2025 performing with piano soloist Lucas Debargue at the Fidelio Cafe London.

 

Originally from Hertfordshire, Kayla studied with Vanessa David at Junior Guildhall where she was the principal violinist of the Junior Guildhall String Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra, was a finalist in their annual Lutine Prize and was awarded the Principal's Prize. Kayla was also the principal violinist of the National Children’s Orchestra and co-principal of the National Youth String Orchestra. During this time Kayla was generously supported by Awards for Young Musicians and Future Talent (now Young Sounds UK).

 

As a soloist Kayla has performed with orchestra works such as Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, selections of Vivaldi and Piazzola’s four seasons, ‘Harbour’ by Dr Susannah Self and the London Premiere of Oliver Davis’ Infinite Oceans. Kayla has also participated in masterclasses with Alina Ibragimova, Chloe Hanslip, Thomas Gould and Jess Gillam. Kayla has also taken part in many courses and masterclasses such as Pro Corda, Musicworks, Cadenza International Summer School, Beares Chamber Music, National Strings UK and the Luci Della Ribalta Festival in Narni Italy.

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Kayla regularly freelances in and around London in groups such as the Fidelio Orchestra, Orion Orchestra, and is leader of the North London Symphony Orchestra. Kayla has also performed for the Queen Camilla at Stationers Hall, The Original Ivy restaurant in West Street and was the solo violinist in the West-End musical 'Marie Curie' in 2024.

 

Outside of London Kayla is leader of the North Sea Orchestra as well as a member of Cuore Chamber Orchestra in Yorkshire.

 

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Alongside violin Kayla studies conducting at Guildhall with Timothy Redmond and David Corkhill, and she is the founder of the Carina Chamber Orchestra.

 

Kayla has been an artist at Talent Unlimited since 2026, and she plays on a 1928 Pedrazzini violin and an 1885 James Tubbs bow on generous loan from Stringers of London.