Kayla Nicol is a conductor and violinist based in London and Hertfordshire. She has recently graduated with a Bachelor's of Music degree from Guildhall School of Music & Drama where she was the Elmira Darvarova Scholar. Kayla will continue her studies on the Master of Performance course this year at Guildhall. During the degree Kayla has studied conducting with Timothy Redmond and David Corkhill, and violin with Simon Blendis.

 

Kayla is the founder and conductor of the Carina Chamber Orchestra, a group of professional musicians and students from London and Cambridge. She has conducted ensmebles such as London Youth String Orchestra and Junior Guildhall Chamber Choir as well as a masterclass with Robert Max.

 

Originally from Hertfordshire, Kayla attended Junior Guildhall where she took conducting classes with Scott Wilson (2020 - 2022) and studied violin with Vanessa David (2016 - 2022). During this time Kayla was leader of the National Childrens Orchestra, Junior Guildhall String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra and was a finalist in the Lutine Prize.

 

At Guildhall, Kayla has co-led the Studio Orchestra and Guildhall Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall, and is a founding member of the Albero Trio. In early 2026, the piano trio won First Prize at the North London Festival and the prestigious Ivan Sutton Prize. She is also a member of the Fidelio Collective.

 

Kayla performs regularly with the Fidelio Orchestra and Cuore Chamber Orchestra in Yorkshire, and is leader of the North London Symphony Orchestra and North Sea Orchestra.

 

Kayla's postgraduate studies will be supported by Help Musicians UK and the Boise Scholarship. She performs on a 1928 Pedrazzini violin and an 1885 James Tubbs bow, generously on loan from Stringers of London. Since 2026 Kayla has been an artist at Talent Unlimited.