Nicki Davenport

Nicki Davenport is Head of Music at More House School, Frensham, and a professional double bass player. She is the founder and director of Kids Symphonic Sundays, a much-loved and highly successful concert series in Farnham that introduces younger children to orchestral instruments through performances by professional musicians.

Nicki spent the first decade of her career as a freelance orchestral musician, touring extensively around the world with ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Aurora Orchestra, as well as on a particularly memorable tour of Europe and North America with Sting.  One of her most challenging experiences as a professional performer was performing Beethoven 6th Symphony from memory in a BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, it was quite the experience!

Her work as a theatre musician has included appearing as a cowgirl in Oklahoma! at the Young Vic, supporting a wandering Egyptian police orchestra in The Band’s Visit at the Donmar Warehouse, and bravely navigating Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre. She has performed in numerous other National Theatre productions, including Pinocchio, Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night (which included some acting and close-harmony singing on the Olivier stage - heaven!).  Nicki has also worked extensively at Chichester Festival Theatre, appearing in Flowers for Mrs Harris, This Is My Family, South Pacific and Fiddler on the Roof. Nicki loved being a part of Cameron Macintosh's Les Mis in Concert at the Gielgud theatre - with the orchestra on stage she was able to see the action for once!

Alongside her performing career, Nicki has held peripatetic teaching posts at Charterhouse, All Hallows, Weybourne and More House School, teaching piano, flute and double bass. In 2024 she left the West End production of Hadestown to take up the incredibly exciting opportunity to lead the music department at More House School as Head of Music, a role she adores.