Nicolette Sullivan-Cozza, viola

Meet Nicolette

Nicolette appeared on Show 405, airing the week of November 11, 2021.

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 New England Conservatory under the tutelage of the esteemed Kim Kashkashian, Nicolette is the recipient of a Dean’s full scholarship. Before attending 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 winner of the  VSA International Young Soloists Competition, YMIC Washington National Youth Music Competition (Maestro Carnegie Debut) , New York Classical Music Competition, and is a first prize winner of the Boston International Music Competition (and recipient of the Best Stage Performance Award) Caneres International Music 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, the Kimmel Center, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Curtis Institute of Music’s Field Recital Hall, Chicago’s Symphony Center, Lincoln Center, 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 the December of 2017.

As a dedicated orchestral musician, Nicolette performed as Principal Violist of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, New England Conservatory 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.

2021 Bio:

Nicolette Sullivan-Cozza (viola), 18, hails from Hockessin, Delaware. She is a freshman at New England Conservatory studying under Kim Kashkashian on a Dean’s full scholarship. Previously, she was a student of Kerri Ryan. She is a laureate in numerous competitions such as the American Viola Society Biannual Solo Competition, the Delaware Concerto Competition for young Musicians, VSA International Young Soloists Competition, the Catholic University of America Young Artist Competition, the IU Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy Concerto Competition and the American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition and is a recipient of a Sphinx MPower Grant. Ms. Sullivan-Cozza held positions as the Principal Violist of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the New England Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Principal in the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She is an alumni of PMAY (Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth) and the Primera Fund.