Nichola began her journey with music and theatre, thrust (willingly) onto the stage, aged 5, alongside her actor parents, in a review show at the YMCA in Nottingham. Singing in church choirs, school choirs and playing the violin in the Nottingham Youth Orchestra was a joy and became the basis for the career that was later to blossom.
Although her Grammar school wasn’t a place for music, Nichola, being the only violin player, was able to play for assemblies, and to sing and act in Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach. She knew even then where she was heading…
Following 3 years study at Clarendon College, Nottingham, she gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music with Constance Shacklock OBE, and Peter Harrison (Human Nature of the Singing Voice), both of whom gave her the inspiration to pass on the joy of singing through teaching.
Abbey Opera, London, (conductor Antony Shelley) now offered dramatic soprano roles, and appearances at the Cockpit Theatre, London, and St John’s Smith Square, London.
Opera was to reappear later with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta and the role of Carmen. However Nichola was now drawn to take a risk and formed the 3 girl group ‘String of Pearls’, writing and covering songs with a capella harmony….. an original girl band! New Faces, Bob Kerr’s Whoopy Band, Tom O’Connor, Alan Titchmarsh, Woman’s Hour, Pick of the Week, No Strings Attached, Spiegel Tent, Jongleurs, Walthamstow Granada were some of the highlights of their time together with one very special moment – singing the ‘Dying Swan’ for Wayne Sleep!
A solo career beckoned and Nichola joined the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera to cover and play Mme Giry for a year. One of the highlights was, one evening, the attendance of Princess Diana. Under the Really Useful Company umbrella, Nichola was asked to sing vocals for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express at the Apollo Theatre, London. This continued for 4 years and gave Nichola the opportunity to respond to requests for her vocals on recordings and to explore differing genres.
At the Actors Centre in Covent Garden, London, Nichola spent 3 years honing her acting skills in workshop with director Andrew Pratt.
On relocating to Dorset Nichola once again decided to take the risk of uncharted territory, wanting to explore theatre and instrumental sound, with voice spoken and sung, within immersive and community theatre.
A 3 girl group again emerged. Tricksy Trobairitz (female troubadors), written and devised by the group, sold out at the Shaftesbury Festival, at the Oxjam Festival, Nottingham, and Hampstead Ponds, London.
Nichola Christie has coached artists for CBS, EMI, London Records (Roland Gift – Fine Young Cannibals), and is at present Vocal Coach for the Young Artists Label Mercury KX (Solomon Grey, LYR, Josin – The Bottom Line, Grammy Nominated 2022)
At Southampton University she runs teaching/coaching workshops for undergraduates and postgraduate vocalists and bands. Many are now young professionals in theatre, and on the music scene in the UK and in other cultures around the globe.
