Nicolette Marie Sullivan-Cozza is an accomplished violist who began her musical journey at the age of four when she picked up the violin. At the age of twelve, she discovered her true passion for the viola, which became her main focus. Currently studying at the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of the esteemed Kim Kashkashian, Nicolette is the recipient of a Dean’s full scholarship. Before attending the New England Conservatory, Nicolette excelled as a distinguished honors student at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts and studied under Kerri Ryan, the Assistant Principal Violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Nicolette’s outstanding musical abilities have garnered recognition in various prestigious competitions worldwide. She is a grand prize/ first prize winner of the VSA International Young Soloists Competition, YMIC Washington National Youth Music Competition (Carnegie Debut) , New York Classical Music Competition, Boston International Music Competition, Caneres International Music Competition, American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition, IU Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy Concerto Competition, Great Composers Global Competition and the Delaware Concerto Competition. Achievements extend beyond these competitions, such as winning an honorable mention in the Alexander and Buono International Strings Competition, second place in the Stockholm International Music Competition, receiving a Music and Stars Silver Star Award, Sphinx MPower Grant and a Coastal Concerts Scholarship.
Notably, she was a semi-finalist in the George Gershwin International Music Competition and a finalist in the American Viola Society Solo Competition.
Nicolette’s captivating performances have graced some of the most renowned concert halls across the globe, including Carnegie Hall’s Weill and Isaac Stern recital halls, Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall and Perelman Theater, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Curtis Institute of Music’s Field Recital Hall, Chicago’s Symphony Center, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, John F. Kennedy Center, Athens Megaron Concert Hall, and CapeTown City Town Hall. She has also been invited to share her music on esteemed platforms like NPR’s “From The Top” and WRTI 90.1 FM Classical and Jazz Radio Station, has performed in one of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Prelude Concerts (What I Hear) and performed for Delaware State Officials on Delaware Day in the December of 2017.
As a dedicated orchestral musician, Nicolette has performed as Principal Violist of the Cab Calloway School of the Arts String Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, New England Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra where she was honored with the Helen T. Carp Distinguished Service Award. Furthermore, she currently serves as a substitute violist for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nicolette has dedicated her summers to attending distinguished music programs such as the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Institute, and the Sphinx Performance Academy. In 2018, she was awarded a full merit scholarship to attend the Curtis Institute of Music’s Young Artist Summer Program.
Nicolette’s passion for music extends beyond her personal goals and successes. As an alumna of the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth and the Primavera Fund, she recognizes the importance of community and mentorship in her own musical journey. With seed money from Project 440, Nicolette co-founded Strings for Change with her sisters Justine and Adelle, an organization that provides free violin and viola private lessons, instruments, and supplies to elementary and middle school students studying in Delaware public schools. Through this organization, they have been able to make a meaningful impact, allowing other students to experience the transformative power of music. Outside of music, she is a HSF National Hispanic Scholar, a Union League of Philadelphia Scholar and is a recipient of its Good Citizen Award.
You can find Nicolette’s 2023 World Music Competition viola performance here.