Nicole grew up in Perth, Western Australia where she began her musical studies on piano at the age of eight and continued with bassoon at the age of 13.

She completed a Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours from the University of Western Australia where she studied with Peter Moore. In 1999, Nicole studied with Matthew Wilkie at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main, made possible by a German Government Scholarship. Whilst overseas Nicole had the good fortune of regularly performing and touring with Ensemble Modern, the Deutscher Kammer Philharmonie and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Before obtaining her position in the QSO, Nicole freelanced extensively, gaining an immense amount of experience playing with all the major orchestras in Australia; Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Australia and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

After returning from Germany, Nicole gained her position as Section Principal Bassoon with the QSO and has held that position since 2002. When not playing with the QSO, Nicole teaches the bassoon at Hillbrook Anglican College and the University of Queensland. Nicole is passionate about teaching and playing chamber music. When not playing the bassoon, Nicole enjoys baking, cultivating indoor plants and spending time with her family. She dreams of one day of living on a hobby farm with horses, donkeys, chickens.