about - Nicola Baxter

Cellist | Performer | Composer | Educator

Nicola Tait Baxter

Known for her versatility as a soloist & chamber musician, Nicola Tait Baxter performs with a unique voice, coupling a beautiful tonal range and dynamic interpretations with imaginative programming!

Nicola is one of our foremost cellists. Her great love of the instrument led her to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, winning first prizes for solo and chamber music and graduating with first class honours; further studies and a scholarship took her studies to Germany and Brussels.

At the age of 24 she gave her first solo broadcast for Radio 3 & joined The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, whilst also touring regularly with the Philharmonia and the LSO.

From 2001 to 2005 she was ‘cellist of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, with whom she performed and gave masterclasses throughout Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa.

It is a rare stroke of luck when a world-class performer interprets these pieces; her haunting performances led the listeners into the late baroque soundscapes of JS Bach” “her lively interpretations, were performed in an intoxicating and beautiful way.

The Bremervorde Regional Art and Music Festival, Lower Saxony, Germany

Nicola’s lightness of touch and powerful, sonorous tones, were breath-taking.

Elgar Concerto – The Chorleywood Orchestra

The highlight was Nicola Tait Baxter's beautiful playing of Shostakovich's first Cello Concerto ... Nicola's playing, with its alternation of vigorous and tender exposition, thrilled the whole hall” “What a performance we heard, Nicola took charge of the work and swept away its technical difficulties.

The Bucks Free Press

...bold programming and superb playing are equal music in this performance...

Grahamstown National Arts Festival, South Africa

The concerto has both beauty and drama, particularly when performed by an artist of Nicola’s stature. Shostakovich’s spiky, varying rhythms and time signatures were negotiated with an aplomb that made this one of the best performances I have heard.

Bucks Advertiser

In demand as a soloist and chamber musician, her repertoire includes most of the major ‘cello concertos; she has performed all six solo suites by Bach in festivals in Scotland, England and Germany and has appeared as a soloist in Switzerland and the USA.

Passionate about chamber music and teaching, Nicola co-runs Leading Notes Chamber Music Courses, holds teaching posts at Harrow School & Merchant Taylors' and in 2024 she set up the popular series Woodside Summer Recitals, bringing more chamber music to the Chilterns.

Nicola has recently published Five Fantasy Pieces for solo cello; her Lullaby of Istanbul is featured on Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music and the sheet music/downloads can be ordered from the website.

Nicola thrives on working in a variety of ensembles; she is a regular member of the Bochmann String Trio, a founder member of the clarinet trio AMABILE, she performs cello/piano duo recitals with pianists Mina Miletic, Colin Stone & Paul Nicholson.