Nicolette Sullivan-Cozza began her musical journey with the violin at the age of four. At the age of twelve, she discovered the viola, which became her passion. Currently studying at the New England Conservatory of Music under Kim Kashkashian, Nicolette is the recipient of a Dean's full scholarship. Before, she studied under Kerri Ryan, the Assistant Principal Violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Nicolette is a Kennedy Center VSA International Young Soloists Award winner, the Artist of the Year for both 2023 and 2024 for the Great Composers Competition, and a runner up for the American Prize in Instrumental Performance. Notably, she has won top prizes in competitions such as the Boston International Music Competition, BellaGrande International Music Competition, Prodigy International Music Competition and Azteca Concurso Internacional de Música, was a semi-finalist in the George Gershwin International Music Competition, and a finalist in the American Viola Society Solo Competition.
Nicolette has performed in concert halls across the globe, including Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Musikverien, Chicago Symphony Center, John F. Kennedy Center and CapeTown City Town Hall. She has also been invited to share her music on esteemed platforms like NPR's ""From The Top"" and WRTI 90.1 FM Classical and Jazz Radio Station, has performed in two Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Prelude Concerts, and performed for Delaware State Officials on Delaware Day the December of 2017.
As a dedicated orchestral musician, Nicolette performed as Principal Violist of the New England Conservatory of Music Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, where she was honored with the Helen T. Carp Distinguished Service Award. Furthermore, she currently serves as a substitute violist for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. She also has attended prestigious music programs such as the Sphinx Performance Academy, Bowdoin International Music Festival and the Heifetz International Music Institute.
As a Sphinx MPower Grant Recipient and an alumni of the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth and the Primavera Fund, she recognizes the importance of community and mentorship in her own musical journey. To give back to her community that made it possible for her and her sisters, Justine and Adelle, to pursue music, they created Strings For Change. The program was founded with seed money from Project 440 and provides free violin and viola private lessons, instruments, and supplies to elementary and middle school students studying in Delaware public schools. Through this organization, they have been able to make a meaningful impact, allowing other students to experience the transformative power of music. Outside of viola, she is a HSF National Hispanic Scholar, a Union League of Philadelphia Scholar and is a recipient of its Good Citizen Award.
