When Nicole Pinnell first saw a cello, she trembled at the beauty of the mighty instrument. With her first tour at age twelve, Carnegie Hall debut at age fourteen, and international career at age nineteen, Pinnell’s career has spanned several decades. Her playing can be heard on a wide range of media, including the Grammy-nominated score for the “Hogwarts Legacy” video game, the Book of Mormon videos produced by the Church of Jesus Christ, and the “Lamb of God: The Concert Film.” Sought out worldwide for her lyricism, passion, and elegance, Pinnell records and performs at a prolific pace, working on hundreds of projects annually. Nicole has performed with some of the most famous musicians in the world, including Joshua Bell, Andrea Bocelli, Yo-Yo Ma, Olivia Rodrigo, Aerosmith, and Page and Plant. She tours regularly with Nathan Pacheco, Jenny Oaks Baker, Gentri, and the Utah Symphony.

Nicole’s diverse skill set includes electric cello, looping, effects, improvisation, and composition. Time spent studying with musicians from African, Hindustani, Native American, and Middle Eastern traditions has made Pinnell’s style ever more evocative and unique. Pinnell graduated with honors from both Arizona State University and the London College of Music. Her Master’s degree is in Contemporary Performance, with an emphasis in improvisation. Nicole’s principal teachers include Kathleen Franceschi (National Suzuki Institute), Peter Howard (Cleveland Orchestra), and Eugene Friesen (Berklee School of Music), with additional coaching from soloists Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zukerman.

Nicole Pinnell is cello soloist on four projects nominated for the Grammy Award. Other highlights include her Billboard-Charting album Away in a Manger, a Cello Christmas (charting at #2, only under Yo-Yo Ma), which Nicole also co-arranged and produced. Pinnell arranged and composed all works for her second solo album, “NeoClassical Cello Solo by Nicole Pinnell,” produced by Warner-Chappell Music.

Pinnell graduated with honors from both Arizona State University and the London College of Music. Her Master’s degree is in Contemporary Performance, with an emphasis in improvisation. Nicole’s principal teachers include Kathleen Franceschi (National Suzuki Institute), Peter Howard (Cleveland Orchestra), and Eugene Friesen (Berklee School of Music), with additional coaching from soloists Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zukerman.

Awarded “Educator of the Year” by the American String Teacher Association of Utah, Nicole is the author of “Growing Brilliance,” a transformative curriculum for classical string players that teaches music theory through improvisation, creativity through connection, and liberates players from performance anxiety and negative internal systems. For more information, contact Nicole through her website at nicolepinnell.com. To help Nicole bring you more music, please subscribe to her YouTube: Nicole Pinnell @nicolepinnellmusic.