Violin
Nicola Benedetti
Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Her 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.
“Ms. Benedetti's playing is always top-notch.”
Biography
North and South American Management
charlotte [at] primoartists.comFor Presenters
Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Her 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.
Nicola opens the 2026/27 season with two major North American engagements, performing the Marsalis Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Cristian Măcelaru, before appearing with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Karina Canellakis.
Highlights elsewhere in the season include returns to the Philharmonia Orchestra for Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Jakub Hrůša, the Los Angeles Philharmonic for further performances of the Mendelssohn Concerto, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, where she closes the season with Brahms’s Double Concerto directed by Maxim Emelyanychev.
Winner of the GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at both the 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola records exclusively for Decca (Universal Music). Her latest release, Violin Café, topped the UK’s Official Specialist Classical Chart and inspired her first solo tour in over a decade, a unique and deeply personal programme presented at many of the UK and Ireland’s leading concert halls, including the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Dublin’s National Concert Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall. The programme combined popular virtuosic and richly romantic works in new arrangements for violin, guitar, accordion and cello.
Her latest Beethoven recordings have both received widespread acclaim: the Violin Concerto with Aurora Orchestra and the Triple Concerto with Benjamin Grosvenor, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Nicola’s recordings of the Vivaldi Concerti and Elgar’s Violin Concerto also both reached No. 1 on the UK Official Classical Albums Chart. Other recent recordings include her GRAMMY® Award-winning album of works written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin. In 2021, BBC Music Magazine named her “Personality of the Year” in recognition of her online support for young musicians during the pandemic.
Nicola has always been a dedicated, passionate ambassador and leader in music education and her commitment was underlined in 2019 when she established The Benedetti Foundation (benedettifoundation.org). The Foundation delivers transformative experiences through mass music events and unites those who believe music is integral to life’s education. The Foundation believes in the strength of music and the power of mass inspirational moments to connect cultures and communities through combining excellence and inclusivity, tradition and innovation and meaningful collaboration. In its first four years, the Foundation has worked with close to 70,000 participants of all ages and levels, instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists alike, across 105 countries. Its free online educational video resources: ‘With Nicky’ and other Foundation videos have had over 6 million views.
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).
In October 2022, Nicola became the Festival Director of the Edinburgh International Festival. In taking the role she became both the first Scottish and the first female Festival Director since the Festival began in 1947.
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In the press
“The hottest classical violinist on the planet.”
Daily Mail
“Ms. Benedetti's playing is always top-notch, her sound brilliant and clean.”
The New York Times
“Ms. Benedetti's sound in the stratosphere of her register is almost improbably pure and gleaming; at times it resembled the supernatural song of a theremin… Ms. Benedetti's violin soared with luminous grace.”
The New York Times
“She has a sumptuous tone. She digs into a phrase with plenty of intensity and clearly enjoys showing off her technique, but she never crosses the line to showiness. An admirable violinist, Benedetti [has] certainly earned the right to be taken seriously.”
Los Angeles Times
“Benedetti is one magnificent talent, her abilities only matched by her ambitiousness. It was an extraordinarily satisfying concert that went in four distinctly different directions, stylistically. Not only did Benedetti show off her versatility, she demonstrated that she might just be brilliant with whatever repertoire she touches.”
Pioneer Press
“Benedetti has a crisp, centered violin tone that shines in the high register, and she fearlessly navigates to the top of the instrument's range, hitting stratospheric notes with authority and swaggering vibrato.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Joshua Bell may be the only violinist under the age of 50 more widely known than Benedetti. … The concert was entirely triumphant. Benedetti didn't merely prove that she's shed her former status as a youthful novelty. She's clearly become an important artist of significant merit.”
The Kansas City Star
“Benedetti draws an exceptionally rich and full-bodied sound from her Stradivarius instrument. Her vibrato was ample without being excessive, and her bowing has character.”
Pittsburgh Tribune
“From her first note, it was clear that Benedetti's artistry is impressive. She projected a sweet, stunning sound on her Stradivarius, played with a fresh spirit and clearly had something to say.”
Cincinnati Enquirer
“Benedetti's playing had a satisfying poise and maturity that ushered the listener gently into the labyrinthine patterns woven by Bach in this mesmerizing piece of music.”
Star Tribune
“Benedetti is an absorbing musical storyteller. Like all the best, she leaves you wanting more.”
Star Tribune
“Benedetti's trademark is her tone: sweet and clear in the upper register, honeyed in mid-range, and velvety in her low notes.”
Classical Voice America
“Benedetti is the type of passionate artist who can help popularize classical music with a new generation.”
Pop Culture Classics
“Whatever she plays, Benedetti remains a great communicator.”
The Times (of London)
“Her magically sustained pianissimos deserve an Oscar.”
The Times (of London)
“Nicola Benedetti, beloved by audiences at the BBC Proms, was enthusiastically greeted by a packed house to perform Korngold's Concerto, a favourite of hers, and one that she has recorded fairly recently. Her creamy tone was as seductive as ever, caressing and shaping the opening paragraphs, with many a wonderful sudden pianissimo along the way. As she ascended to the heights and set up the first tutti, she gave a small smile of pleasure. Her playing had all the sheer beauty the lush score calls for.”
The Strad
“She is habitually called 'the violin star' …”
The Arts Desk
“This is an artist who exudes star quality; her exquisite playing, combining true virtuosity and a deep musical intelligence made this a memorable performance.”
Herald Scotland
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