Nicola Benedetti

Nicola Benedetti’s ability to captivate audiences and her wide appeal as an advocate for classical music has made her one of the most influential artists of today.

Winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at both 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola records exclusively for Decca (Universal Music). In 2021, BBC Music Magazine named her “Personality of the Year” for her online support of many young musicians during the pandemic.

Nicola was appointed a CBE in 2019, awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music (2017), and an MBE in 2013. In addition, Nicola holds the positions of Vice President (National Children’s Orchestras), Big Sister (Sistema Scotland), Patron (National Youth Orchestras of Scotland’s Junior Orchestra, Music in Secondary Schools Trust and Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). Her commitment to music in education was formalised by the establishment of The Benedetti Foundation.

In March 2022, Nicola became the Director Designate of the Edinburgh International Festival, in taking the role Nicola will become both the first Scottish and the first female Director since the Festival began in 1947.

Nicola plays the Gariel Stradivarius (1717), courtesy of Jonathan Moulds.