Warmth, talent, good humour, dedication and kindness: This is the legacy violist Nicole Divall leaves as we bid her a fond farewell from the ACO. Nikki's 16 years with us has included numerous accomplishments, including national, regional and international tours, ACO recordings, and mentorship of Emerging Artists, ACO Collective artists and ACO Academy musicians. Her immense talent and generous spirit will be dearly missed by all of us at the ACO and by audiences alike.
A much-loved friend and colleague, we wish Nikki the absolute best as she embarks on new and exciting adventures overseas. Read on for some personal words from Nikki’s friends and orchestra colleagues.
Nicole Divall and Richard Tognetti backstage at City Recital Hall. Photo by Nic Walker.
We’re going to miss Nikki’s warmth, vibrancy and supermum status.
I recall her stepping in to play Tchaikovsky Souvenir at the last moment and we all felt very fortunate to have such ability and sound in our section.
We wish you luck Nikki and you’ll be sorely missed.
Richard Tognetti, ACO Artistic Director
Nikki‘s dedication and warmth towards her colleagues is an inspiration. She plays with conviction and approaches every situation with good humour and grace. She‘s always been there for me and I know she‘s always been someone you can count on during the tough times.
I‘ve adored having her in our Amazonian viola section for the brief time we‘ve had together. I‘ll miss her warmth and bubbly personality both on and off stage.
She will leave a hole in our hearts and we‘ll miss her enormously!
Stefanie Farrands, Principal Viola
My first memories of Nikki go all the way back to 1989. We were fresh faced young students sitting in rehearsal with the Canberra School of Music Chamber Orchestra, somewhat terrified if I’m to be honest, playing some of the most difficult repertoire written for chamber strings. John Painter was conducting and the stakes were high.. yes there were tears on some rehearsal days. Thankfully not from either of us as I remember. However, Nikki and I have reminisced about this since and there are still pieces in our repertoire that bring a cold chill and a quickening of the pulse just from seeing it in an upcoming program. It’s somehow comforting to know I’m not alone when 30 years after the event I still have these residual feelings.
While we went our separate directions for many years after this it seemed so natural that we should end up playing in a chamber orchestra again. Those early experiences had to count for something! Its such a shame to see Nikki move on but I wish her the very best and know that with her determination and intelligence she will have a successful next phase in her career.
Mark Ingwersen, ACO violinist
Dear Nikki,
We will remember you with fond thoughts! Busy working/travelling mum, you’ve elevated us with your master baking, your street wise quips, meditative knitting and potion wizardry!
Many memories like the snow trips stay with us and your sourdough starter will live on this side of the world!
Farewell for now and wishing you all the very best in your future life adventures.
Maxime Bibeau, Principal Double Bass
Nikkinoo!
Oh how we will miss yoo!
Thank you for being such an extra special friend, colleague and musician. Not to mention the knitting, bread making, cake baking and the cocktails! What a talented lady you are!
It seems like we have known each other for longer than 16 years. I have watched your gorgeous children grow up and blossom into the special people that they are ( thanks to you being an amazing Mum) and witnessed your pure dedication to being a mother and a damn good viola player at the same time as living in a different country to your partner in love. An inspiration to us all I reckon. I will continue to bug you for motherly advice especially when the teenage years hit our house and will hugely miss you being there as the stalwart of the violas. I look forward very much to sipping a negroni on your balcony with you 17 years from now and looking back on what an amazing time we have had together in the ACO and the opus 50 gigs!
I know that you will make the most of the next chapter of your life and wish you all the best of everything possible. Hellie x
Helena Rathbone, ACO Principal Violin
For me there’s not been a time in the ACO without my dear friend and colleague Nikki. She joined a little before I did and over the last 15 years or so we’ve shared an enormous amount. From the the magic of that golden performance to the crack of dawn bus departure after the briefest of sleeps, and all of the absurdity that touring life throws your way in between, Nikki’s always been swift with a ready smile and a mischievous eye twinkle, somehow letting you in on the secret that we’re all in this mad dance together. We will miss her terribly.
Julian Thompson, ACO cellist
Dear Nikki,
It would be so weird to look at the ACO viola section and not see you there as it seems you were the constant steady pillar of that section since about forever! I have really enjoyed playing with you for many years in various settings, most recently in our Museum Little series :) I hope your next chapter in life will bring you the happiness you deserve!
Ilya Isakovich, ACO violinist
One of the greatest joys of working with Nikki, is witnessing her passion and dedication for education. I have particularly enjoyed working with Nikki on ACO Academy, a program for young string players. Nikki has been involved in ACO Academy since it began in 2012 – she is very dedicated to teaching young students, and her devotion makes her a pleasure to work with.
When we work together, it is always great fun to talk about how we can make the biggest impact on their development – we talk programs, students, and what we can do to inspire them on their musical journeys.
I really enjoy playing chamber music with Nikki. She is incredibly supportive, and I feel like we are truly sharing the experience. She is great fun, and always lifts the spirits of everyone in the group.
I have confidence that she will continue to work as a leading musician, and educator no matter where she is. I will miss her.
Aiko Goto, ACO violinist
Nikki joined the ACO some months after I did; her bubbly personality with stupendous baking-skills and her warm viola-sound will be much missed.
Lots of great and colourful memories over the years from times spent together around the world.
Satu Vänskä, ACO Principal Violin
How to sum up all the time playing, travelling and eating together with Nikki? So hard! There’s an almost ghostly absence when a long-time musician leaves the ACO that never quite disappears, even with time, and we will all miss Nikki very, very much. Her always warm, sociable and caring presence and her equally generous musicianship will be sorely missed, not to mention her baking skills (wicked cakes, slices and superb sourdough, even before it was ubiquitous) which she would always willingly share with ACO musos and Emerging Artists alike. I’m forever indebted to her for her “cheat’s porcini risotto“, now a beloved staple in my household! Her great love for people, sharing, playing music and teaching has also been a force within the orchestra and has helped to drive our educational aspirations. She has especially wanted to make chamber music a bigger part of kids and young musicians’ lives in Australia for as long as I can remember and I really look forward to continuing on that mission. I’ll miss our own quartet moments too.
And personally, so many memorable times... big, moonlit, cider- fueled dinners in Spain, margaritas in hidden downtown LA bars, girls’ day out in Santa Monica, farm to table gourmet meals in San Fran... the list of living-life moments together is long. To Nikki I say, big hugs, safe travels, keep on living your life with warmth, love, food and music - we will miss you. I hope our paths cross again very soon.
Melissa Barnard, ACO cellist
Nikki, I am going to miss having you around so much, you have been my supplier of endless headache pills, taken me for the best ceviche in Miami (and the fastest bra shopping I have ever done too) given many incredible red wine recommendations and the nicest pair of hand made fingerless gloves I have ever worn, so many laughs and incredible musicianship especially in our recent quartets. The loveliest day in Santa Monica followed by the worst cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory! You have also been the best glass playing buddy possible! There have been endless laughs and jokes and it just won’t be the same without you! I will miss you as a colleague, a musician and most of all as a friend! I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope you can make the move to the USA as soon as possible!
Srečno in vse najboljše na tvoji novi poti!
Maja Savnik, ACO violinist
