Heather Nicoll
Heather Nicoll has held the position of Head of Woodwind at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland since 2007. She has enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional clarinettist, performing and recording with many of Britain’s leading orchestras.
Heather Nicoll has held the position of Head of Woodwind at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland since 2007. She has enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional clarinettist, performing and recording with many of Britain’s leading orchestras, including holding the principal bass clarinet position with the Orchestra of Scottish Ballet for several years. She has appeared as a concerto soloist across the UK and in Europe, including her professional debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). She has also appeared internationally with leading chamber and contemporary ensembles.
Heather’s extensive recording portfolio spanning classical, folk, pop, and film music, encompasses projects with leading labels including Hyperion, Naxos and Albany Records, and has performed in numerous broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. She has featured as a session musician on numerous original soundtracks for blockbuster films with iconic composers such as John Williams (Harry Potter: The Philosopher’s Stone), James Horner (Enemy at the Gates), and Craig Armstrong (Moulin Rouge), recording at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios and Air Studios, London. Heather features on the critically acclaimed Varèse Sarabande recordings, working with legendary film composers Elmer Bernstein, and Jerry Goldsmith, including a Gramophone Award-winning recording of Bernard Herrmann’s Vertigo score (RSNO). She has also recorded with artists such as Joni Mitchell (Travelogue album, 2002), Bryn Terfel, Lesley Garrett, and Russell Watson.
In addition to her performing career, Heather has a strong academic and educational background. She holds an MA in Psychology for Musicians (University of Sheffield, 2002) and a PGDip in Performance Psychology (University of Edinburgh, 2018), specialising in peak performance. A certified Mindfulness Now teacher (UK College of Mindfulness Meditation), she works with RCS students and professionals on mindfulness for stress management and performance enhancement. Heather has been a keynote speaker for professional organisations including the Associations of Teachers of Singing (Scottish pad- AOTOS) and a panel speaker for the Ministry of Education, Singapore (on-line).
Heather has adjudicated at regional, national, and international levels for organisations including the Yamaha Foundation Awards, BBC Young Musician, National Concert Band Festival, Norwegian Band Federation (Trondheim), and Youth Festival Arts Presentation (Singapore). She is an invited artist on the Youth Chamber Music course and has delivered masterclasses and workshops at leading conservatoires across Europe. Heather also serves as a Director of the Scottish Clarinet Festival.