Nicola Benedetti CBE: Get to know the talented violinist
The Scottish-Italian has already had such an incredibly successful career
You'll no doubt be aware of Nicola Benedetti CBE's awe-inspiring talent; you'll possibly know about her incredible philanthropic endeavours - and you may even be familiar with some of the awards she's won over the years.
But there's so much more to know. We've gathered together some frequently asked questions, interesting facts and various accomplishments that Nicky has attained over the years for your reading pleasure. You're welcome.
You can hear exclusive content from Nicola Benedetti on Scala Radio Premium. Start your 7-day free trial to listen. Find out more here.
Early life
Nicola Joy Nadia Benedetti was born on 20th July 1987 in West Kilbride, Scotland to parents Giovanni and Francesca. Giovanni, known as Gio, was born in Italy and moved to Scotland at the age of 10; he's a well-known entrepreneur in Scotland. Francesca's parents were Scottish and Italian - she was born in Italy and moved to Scotland at the age of three. She is also musical, having been a great influence on Nicola's musical learning.
Nicola once explained that, although her mother had made herself and her sister practise for three hours a day before they were allowed to play, she's actually grateful for the determination that was bestowed in those early years, "Her point was always, 'If you are going to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability.'
"My mum is unbelievably pragmatic. Down-to-earth doesn’t really cover it. She has never cared about the fame and fortune of it all. To this day she will still ask me if I’ve done enough practice before a concert."
Stephanie Benedetti
Nicola's sister Stephanie is a touring violinist for the pop-classical group Clean Bandit, as well as a viola player in the electronic string quartet Escala - best known as finalists of Britain's Got Talent in 2008 (prior to Stephanie joining the group).
Stephanie formerly played violin in the RaVen Quartet from 2007-2014, performing with ska group Madness during their set at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony. She also performed with quartet Bond on part of their 2014 tour.
Nicola's early interest in music
Nicola's mother Francesca was hugely influential on her daughters when it came to music - but it was actually down to her elder sister that Nicola began playing the violin. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2014, she explained that she'd been dragged to her first violin lesson aged four after Stephanie had "begged" for tutelage, and admitted that she'd "cried her way" through the session.
Nicola paid tribute to her former tutor in 2020, telling The Courier, "She was somebody who understood how to impart that basic love of music. She was demanding and she was a strict teacher to a certain degree, but she had so much positivity and so much enthusiasm that it was such a powerful first experience."
Where did Nicola Benedetti study?
Thankfully, Nicky caught the musical bug, and made history at the age of eight or nine as the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain youngest ever lead violinist. She'd passed all eight grades of musical exams in violin by nine-years-old, and at 10 she left Scotland to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. She said of the move, "Of course I missed my family, but even at that young age, the most exciting thing to me was the violin."
At the age of 15, Nicola dropped out of the school to focus on the violin instead of her GCSEs - but still passed five with private tuition. She began studying under Maciej Rakowski, who coached her to her Carlton TV’s Britain’s Brilliant Prodigies win as well as the prestigious Young Musician of the Year one year later at 16-years-old.
Career highlights, rise to fame and album releases:
2005: Debut album
Nicola released her debut album, 'Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1', in 2005 - topping the UK classical charts and winning her a nomination for Album of the Year at the Classic BRITs in 2006, where she was also nominated for Young British Classical Performer.
2006: More Classic BRIT nominations
Her second release was a recording of 'Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto', put out only a year later in 2006, for which she received a further two nominations in the same categories - as well as a third for Instrumentalist of the Year. It reached Number 2 in the UK Classical charts.
2007: Third album and move to Vienna
Nicola's third album 'Vaughan Williams and Tavener' featured many of the composers' classic works, including particular VW favourite 'The Lark Ascending', released in 2007. A year later, she went to Vienna and studied under two new teachers, choosing to focus on practise rather than performance. It was also the year she won Young British Classical Performer at the Classic BRITs.
2009: Sistema Scotland the Big Noise Orchestra
But she has never forgotten her Scottish roots, or the importance of musical education. In 2009, Sistema Scotland set up its Big Noise Orchestra - and it wasn't long before Nicola was involved, tutoring the children. However, she pushed the organisers to make more of it, as Dr Richard Holloway told the Telegraph, "Back then we were more intent on the socially transformative aspect of the work, but Nicky was adamant that we should tighten up the teaching and be more disciplined with the children.
"Because of her, we appointed a new director of music and started to really emphasise the importance of hard work. As a direct result of this we are now producing great individual performers as well as a symphony orchestra with a wonderful sound. Nine of our children play with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, which is no mean feat."
2010: BBC Proms debut
2009 also saw the release of Nicky's fourth album, 'Fantasie', which features the talents of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and was her second record to hit the top spot on the UK Classical chart. A year later saw her record 'Tchaikovsky & Bruch: Violin Concertos', as well as being exposed to an even wider audience making her BBC Proms debut with a stunning performance of 'The Lark Ascending' aged 23.
2011: Another Number 1 album
Nicola continued to release an album a year between 2011 to 2014: 'Italia' in 2011, 'The Silver Violin' in 2012, 'My First Decade' in 2013 and 'Homecoming – A Scottish Fantasy' in 2014, which saw her combine her love of classical music with traditional Scottish folk songs, again reaching Number 1 in the UK Classical Chart.
2012-2014: The Stradivarius violin and MBE
During those years, Nicola began playing the 1717 'Gariel' Stradivarius in 2012 as loaned to her by London Symphony Orchestra board member Jonathan Moulds, was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to music and charity and performed at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow in 2014, as well as winning the Classic BRIT Award for Female Artist of the Year in 2012 and 2013 - among many other achievements.
2017: Queen's Medal for Music
She won the Queen's Medal for Music in 2017, which was established in 2005, and is awarded to "an outstanding individual or group of musicians who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation," chosen by a committee led by the Master of the Queen's Music. She was also the youngest ever recipient of the award.
2020: Grammy Award and CBE
2019 saw Nicola release her first record in five years - the 'Marsalis: Violin Concerto; Fiddle Dance Suite', for which she won the best classical instrumental solo award at the Grammys 2020. She was also awarded a CBE for services to music, and won the annual Royal Medal award by the Royal Society of Edinburgh for her work with Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise Orchestras.
Benedetti Foundation
Nicola launched the Benedetti Foundation in 2020, which aims to support both teachers and students in music education. She said of the charity, "The Benedetti Foundation will aim to work with young people on building discipline, professionalism, concentration and perseverance as well as addressing the deeply important emotional, social, internal and psychological challenges young people face, through the act of conscientious music making and collective activity.
"50% of the activity carried out by the organisation will be for teachers. Teaching music well is an enormous responsibility and is hugely challenging. We are fiercely committed to providing meaningful support, extensive information and a sense of uplift, inspiration and respite to as many teachers as possible.
"Furthermore, we wish to help create a greater culture of public acknowledgement, appreciation and celebration of their work. I am passionate about promoting music education practices which encourage both musical and civic betterment."
She was able to take part in three 'Benedetti Sessions' - a children's workshop - before the 2020 lockdown began, and launched the Virtual Benedetti Sessions in May 2020, with over 7,000 people signing up in five days and culminating in a celebration concert. Nicola revived the virtual sessions in November 2020, and again in January 2021.
Nicola Benedetti's violin
Since 2012, Nicola has been in possession of the 1717 'Gariel' Stradivarius, which is on loan to her by London Symphony Orchestra board member Jonathan Moulds, the Bank of America's European president. The instrument, crafted by Antonio Stradivari, has been passed through many owners, and is named after French engineer Charles-Marie Gariel, who bought it in 1881.
She told the Evening Standard in 2012, "It was love at first sight with the Gariel. I’m extremely lucky because most musicians would never get the chance to play on an instrument like this," and the London Symphony Orchestra, "Lots of instruments just don’t suit the person playing them. I was incredibly lucky that we suited each other so well. It’s like falling in love."
You can hear Nicola Benedetti on the Scala Radio playlist.
Introducing Scala Radio Premium:
Read more:
Nicola Benedetti launches the Global Violin Sessions
Nicola Benedetti plays Ernest Bloch's poignant 'Prayer'