Nicola Hands

Oboe

Personal Information

Languages: Fluent in English, French and Spanish, conversational Portuguese

Education and Qualifications
2011 – 2013: Royal Academy of Music MA in oboe and cor anglais (Distinction)

2006-2010: Cambridge University MA in French + Spanish (2:1, distinction in Spanish oral)

Orchestral Experience

Full-Time Jobs
June 2022 – August 2023: Trial with RTÉ Concert Orchestra, 2nd oboe & cor anglais, covering principal oboe
2019: Trial with Philharmonia Orchestra, 2nd oboe
2015 – 2016: Principal Cor Anglais, and 2nd oboe covering principal oboe at Orquestra do Norte

September 2013- 2014: Oboe/Cor Anglais in The Light Princess at the National Theatre

Freelance Work
June 2023: Dep 2nd oboe with Aurora Orchestra
October 2022: Principal oboe, Wexford Festival Opera
March 2022: Dep 2nd oboe for Scottish Chamber Orchestra
January 2022 - present: Dep principal and second oboe for RTÉ Concert Orchestra
2018 - present: Principal oboe, Opéra de Baugé
December 2017: Dep 2nd oboe for Royal Ballet Sinfonia at Royal Opera House
January 2017: Dep 2nd oboe for Metropolitana Orchestra, Lisbon
May 2015: Oboe/cor anglais dep for Miss Saigon at Prince Edward Theatre, London

October 2014 - present: Dep 2nd oboe and cor anglais for Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Extras Lists
I am on extras lists for English National Ballet, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera,

BBC Philharmonic and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

Awards and Prizes
February 2016: Jellinek Award for young soloists
October 2012: Winner of the inaugural Dr. Barry Grimaldi prize for cor anglais at RAM
June 2012: Winner of Evelyn Barbarolli oboe prize at RAM
February 2013: Highly Commended in Leila Bull Oboe Prize at RAM
March 2013: Winner of the Hastings Music Festival Woodwind Concerto class
May 2014: Finalist in the Croydon Music Festival Concerto Competition
2006, 2007 and 2009: Awarded music and choral scholarships by Jesus College, Cambridge.

Concerto experience

October 2019: Martin? Concerto with St. Paul’s Sinfonia, London
June 2016: Marcello D Minor Concerto in St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham
February 2016: Albinoni D Minor Concerto with Guildford Symphony Orchestra
April 2014: Vaughan Williams concerto with West Forest Sinfonia
January 2013: Bainbridge Concertante in Moto Perpetuo with RAM Manson Ensemble
conducted by Franck Ollu as part of a birthday celebration concert for the composer
March 2008: Mozart oboe concerto in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge.
December 2005: Strauss oboe concerto in St Mary’s Church, Nottingham

April 2005: Bach double concerto in Nottingham’s Albert Hall

Chamber Music
I am part of a duo with Jonathan Pease, and together we appeared in the Making Music
Selected Artists Guide 2018 and were supported by the Concordia Foundation.
We have performed in venues such as: St. James Piccadilly, St. Martin-in-the-Fields,
Peterborough, Winchester and St. Edmundsbury Cathedrals, St. George Hanover Square,
Waltham Abbey, All Saints High Wycombe, St. Martin Epsom, St. James Paddington, St. Mary
Perivale, Schott Recital Rooms. We have released two albums together.
In 2019 I co-founded the Tailleferre Ensemble, a flexible chamber collective with the aim of
highlighting lesser-known works for wind ensembles. In February 2023 we released our debut
album, and have performed at Conway Hall, St. John’s Smith Square and St. James Piccadilly

amongst others.

Masterclasses
I have taken part in Masterclasses given by Alex Klein, Jonathan Kelly, Emmanuel Abbuhl, Nora
Cismondi, Fabien Thouand, Domenico Orlando, Pauline Oostenrijk and Gareth Hulse.

The information contained in this CV is provided by the client of MAS.
MAS takes no responsibility for its accuracy.

Instruments
Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Bass Oboe, Clarinet, Cor Anglais, Flute, Oboe d'Amore, Tenor Saxophone