Nicola Payne, Violin and Viola

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UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
Lexington Symphony Orchestrating Kids Through Classics Jan 21 and 22, 2026
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra "Transitions and Variations" Feb 7, 2026
Lexington Symphony "Celebrating Coexistence" Feb 14, 2026
Bach Beethoven and Brahms Society: United Parish Brookline, Mar 1, 2026
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra  - Ravel Revealed - Mar 7, 2026
​Lexington Symphony "Pushing the Limits" Mar 28, 2026
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra, "Riding Along" April 11, 2026
Lexington Symphony "Evening with Shakespeare" April 25, 2026
Newburyport Choral Society, "Elijah" May 3, 2026
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler 3, May 9, 2026
Britt Festival Orchestra, Jackonsville, OR June 15 to July 4, 2026

RECENT PERFORMANCES
Vista Philharmonic Christmas Magic Dec 11-13, 2025
Lexington Symphony: March 15, 2025
Old North Church Marblehead Holiday Concert, Dec 6 and 7, 2025
Beethoven Septet Lexington Community Center, Nov. 26, 2025
Heritage Chorale Fall Concert November 23 2025
Bach Beethoven and Brahms: November 16, 2025
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra "Composed Connections, Nov 15, 2025
Lexington Symphony: Passionate Dialogues, Oct. 25, 2025
Back Bay Chorale Chorale at 50 Old South Church Boston Oct 18 2025
Vista Philharmonic: Orchestra Opening Night Oct 11, 2025
Bach Beethoven and Brahms: Sept 28, 2025
Lexington Symphony Classics - Exotic Nights Sept 27, 2025
Recording: Jackson Symphony "For All and None" Sept, 202
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BIOGRAPHY
Nicola Payne (Nicki) is a Boston-based freelance violinist and violist, as well as a passionate instructor with over 25 years of teaching experience.  Growing up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, she earned 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 currently performs in the Boston area as a member of the Lexington Symphony (violin and viola) and Vista Philharmonic Orchestra, also performing with Rhode Island Philharmonic, Bach Beethoven and Brahms Society, Heritage Chorale, Newburyport Choral Society, and many others.   Nicki has been Principal Second Violin of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR for over 20 years. 
 
Nicola began her career as a fellow of the New World Symphony training orchestra in Miami Beach, FL, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, for three years.   Here she served as rotating Principal Second Violin and Assistant Concertmaster, participating in multiple recording projects as well as tours to Europe, Israel, and South America.  During her time at Indiana University, she served as Principal Second and then Concertmaster of the Owensboro Symphony, was 4th chair of the Evansville Philharmonic, Principal Second of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Concertmaster of the New Music Ensemble. 
 
Relocating to Spain in 1998, Nicola was a tenured member of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife for six seasons.  During that time, in addition to a full-time orchestra schedule, she performed on an entire Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner in addition to many other operas, toured Spain, and was involved in multiple recording projects.  While in Spain, she also appeared with the Orquesta Sinfonica de La Coruña, the Camarata de Tenerife (also appearing as soloist), La Laguna Chamber Orchestra, and was concertmaster and soloist of Orquesta d'Amici.  Upon returning to the United States in 2004, Nicki served as Principal Second Violin in the Louisiana Philharmonic and was runner-up for that job in a national audition.  Hurricane Katrina necessitated a move to Kansas City, where Nicki was a regular substitute player in the Kansas City Symphony, also appearing with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.
 
Nicki also performed in the Spoleto Music Festival and the Solti Orchestra Project with residency in Carnegie Hall.  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 has worked with world-class conductors including Sir Georg Solti, James DePreist, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Christoff Eschenbach, and Larry Rachleff.  She has been on stage with renowned artists including Hilary Hahn, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Augustin Hadelich, James Ehnes, Benjamin Beilmann, Anne Akiko Meyers, Anton Nel, Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman, Andre Watts, Yuja Wang, Sarah Chang, and Mischa Maisky.

Nicki discovered her passion for teaching as an Assistant Instructor of Violin at Indiana University.  In Spain, she joined the faculty of the Academia de la Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, teaching advanced students.  During her year in New Orleans, she helped launch a new middle school string program in Metairie, LA.  Upon moving to Boston, she joined the faculty of the Indian Hill Music School (now Groton Hill Music), and taught violin and viola in the Sudbury Public Schools Private Lesson Program and LSRHS Community Ed program for over 12 years before deciding to teach in her home studio only.   In July 2025, she was a coach in the Rivers Conservatory Summer Music Program, coaching chamber music and teaching private lessons. 
 
As a teacher, Nicki encourages her students to be goal oriented, whether that goal is simply to improve as a player, increase enjoyment and appreciation for playing music, or to reach for higher aspirations.  Many of Nicki’s students have gained entry into top youth orchestra programs in the area including Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Boston Youth Philharmonic 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.  In January 2025, one of her viola students tied for first place in the 2025 MMEA Eastern Junior District Music Festival.

In addition to teaching, practicing and performing, Nicki derives great joy from hiking, skiing, gardening, learning languages, traveling and hanging out with husband and double bassist Robb Aistrup and their triplet sons, Halden, Ian, and Nathaniel.  Also accomplished and devoted string players, all three of her sons are pursuing music careers.  Nate (cellist) and Ian (violist) are studying at Boston University in the College of Fine Arts, while Halden is studying double bass at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  In addition to her music degrees, Nicki also has a BA in Biology and a BS in Nursing.