Nicola Rose

Originally from London, Nicola began her musical training as one of the founding girl choristers at Salisbury Cathedral. She studied piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was the recipient of numerous awards and she continued working there as a Junior Fellow before completing her studies at the National Opera Studio in London.

Nicola has a passion for education, outreach and community work and has worked as a pianist and workshop leader for Welsh National Opera, The Royal Opera House, Garsington Opera, English National Opera, Longborough Festival Opera and Opera Holland Park.

Since 2011, Nicola has worked as a pianist and Music Leader for The Forget-Me-Not Chorus, a Welsh charity bringing the joy of singing to people living with dementia and those who support them. She is an alumnus of Yehudi Menuin’s ‘Live Music Now!’ scheme and a current member of Lost Chord. Both charities take music into the community, to those who have reduced access to live music and are dedicated to transforming the lives of people living with dementia and their families through the power of music.

She works regularly as a pianist for Welsh National Opera, Longborough Festival Opera, Music Theatre Wales, Barefoot Opera and the BBC National Chorus of Wales, and has worked as a vocal coach at The Italian Opera Summer School in Southern Italy, Indemini Summer Festival in Switzerland and Oxenfoord International Summer School.

Based in Cardiff, Nicola is very honoured to be a member of the teaching staff at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at University Centre Weston where she works on their Musical Theatre course. Alongside this, she enjoys a freelance career as a vocal coach, Chorus Master, accompanist and repetiteur throughout the UK.

In 2018, Nicola received notable acclaim for her work as Musical Director for Welsh National Opera’s production of Rhondda Rips it Up!, a newly commissioned work by Elena Langer and Emma Jenkins. Written for the Ladies’ chorus at WNO, Lesley Garrett and 50 female members of the Community Chorus, this powerful piece tells the story of Margaret Mackworth, one of Wales' most prominent suffragettes.

Nicola is a RWCMD Associate since 2022.