Nicola Payne, Violin and Viola
Nicola Payne (Nicki) is a Boston-based freelance violinist and violist. She grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, earning a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Master of Music at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, studying with Marylou Speaker Churchill, Daniel Stepner, Lynn Blakeslee, and Mauricio Fuks. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, from beginner to conservatory level.
Nicki has performed throughout the United States and Europe. She has toured to Brazil, Argentina, Monaco, Germany, and Israel, performing in venues that include Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
She served as Principal Second of the Louisiana Philharmonic, and has been Principal Second of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR since 2003. She was a tenured violinist in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, Spain, for seven years. She currently performs with the Vista Philarmonic Orchestra as a contracted member, and also performs frequently with the Lexington Symphony where she has sat Principal Viola in addition to Assistant Principal Second and Assistant Concertmaster, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also performed with Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms Society, Chamber Orchestra of Boston, Newburyport Choral Society, and many others.
Nicki began her orchestral career as a fellow of the New World Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, where she served as rotating Principal Second and Assistant Concertmaster. She was Concertmaster of the Owensboro Symphony from 1996-1997, and Principal Second from 1995 - 1996. She has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfonica de La Coruña, the Camarata de Tenerife, the La Laguna Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta d’Amici (Concertmaster, soloist), Spoleto Music Festival, and the Solti Orchestral Project at Carnegie Hall. She has worked with world-class conductors including Sir Georg Solti, James DePreist, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Christoff Eschenbach, and Larry Rachleff. She has performed with renowned artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Augustin Hadelich, Anton Nel, Andre Watts, Yuja Wang, Sarah Chang, and Mischa Maisky.
She was a professor of the Academia de la Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife and an Assistant Instructor of Violin at Indiana University. Many of her students have gained entry into top youth orchestra programs in the area including Boston Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, NEC prep, and Rivers Youth Orchestras. Her students who have decided to pursue professional careers in music have achieved entry into top conservatories in the country.
Nicki enjoys hiking, skiing, gardening, learning languages, traveling and hanging out with husband Robb Aistrup and her triplet sons, Halden, Ian, and Nathaniel. Also accomplished string players, Nate and Ian are pursuing music degrees (cello and viola) at Boston University, with Halden studying double bass at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition to music degrees, Nicki also has a BA in Biology and a BSN in Nursing.
Nicki has performed throughout the United States and Europe. She has toured to Brazil, Argentina, Monaco, Germany, and Israel, performing in venues that include Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
She served as Principal Second of the Louisiana Philharmonic, and has been Principal Second of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR since 2003. She was a tenured violinist in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, Spain, for seven years. She currently performs with the Vista Philarmonic Orchestra as a contracted member, and also performs frequently with the Lexington Symphony where she has sat Principal Viola in addition to Assistant Principal Second and Assistant Concertmaster, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also performed with Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms Society, Chamber Orchestra of Boston, Newburyport Choral Society, and many others.
Nicki began her orchestral career as a fellow of the New World Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, where she served as rotating Principal Second and Assistant Concertmaster. She was Concertmaster of the Owensboro Symphony from 1996-1997, and Principal Second from 1995 - 1996. She has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfonica de La Coruña, the Camarata de Tenerife, the La Laguna Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta d’Amici (Concertmaster, soloist), Spoleto Music Festival, and the Solti Orchestral Project at Carnegie Hall. She has worked with world-class conductors including Sir Georg Solti, James DePreist, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Christoff Eschenbach, and Larry Rachleff. She has performed with renowned artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Augustin Hadelich, Anton Nel, Andre Watts, Yuja Wang, Sarah Chang, and Mischa Maisky.
She was a professor of the Academia de la Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife and an Assistant Instructor of Violin at Indiana University. Many of her students have gained entry into top youth orchestra programs in the area including Boston Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, NEC prep, and Rivers Youth Orchestras. Her students who have decided to pursue professional careers in music have achieved entry into top conservatories in the country.
Nicki enjoys hiking, skiing, gardening, learning languages, traveling and hanging out with husband Robb Aistrup and her triplet sons, Halden, Ian, and Nathaniel. Also accomplished string players, Nate and Ian are pursuing music degrees (cello and viola) at Boston University, with Halden studying double bass at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition to music degrees, Nicki also has a BA in Biology and a BSN in Nursing.