"Nicole's presence in rehearsal rooms has been transformative — her artistry, rigor, and joy have elevated every ensemble she led."
Nicole Lam is a conductor, musical director, pianist, and software engineer based in New York City whose work bridges the worlds of symphonic music and musical theatre. At age 22, she made both her Broadway keyboard debut and national conducting debut, following her international conducting debut at age 21.
Nicole currently serves as a keyboard sub and rehearsal pianist for on Cats: The Jellicle Ball and recently became the youngest conductor in the 40-year history of The Phantom of the Opera to conduct the national tour. She has also served as Associate Music Director at the Ogunquit Playhouse and has music directed productions including Into the Woods, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Gypsy, Pippin, Violet, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, and Massenet's Cendrillon.
A graduate of Yale University, Nicole studied conducting under Maestro William Boughton and served as Assistant Conductor of the Yale Symphony Orchestra during the 2024–2025 season. In 2025, she received Yale College's Louis Sudler Prize, the university's highest performing arts honor, as well as the Wrexham Prize for Music and the Joseph Selden Memorial Award for excellence in the arts and leadership. She made her international conducting debut leading performances throughout Greece and North Macedonia, culminating in a performance at the Athens Megaron Concert Hall.
As Music Director of the Berkeley College Orchestra (2023–2025), Nicole tripled the ensemble's membership, returned the orchestra to Yale's Woolsey Hall, and led ambitious performances of major symphonic repertoire while establishing conducting workshops and chamber music initiatives that fostered a vibrant musical community.
Beyond the podium, Nicole serves as a Software Engineer for the New Muses Project, where she develops technology that promotes the discovery and performance of historically underrepresented composers. Her interdisciplinary background reflects a broader commitment to strengthening the future of the performing arts through both artistic and technological innovation.
Nicole is also the Founder and Director of Operations of Love Through Music, a national nonprofit organization that has mobilized more than 500 student musicians to present charity concerts for underserved communities and has led service initiatives in Nepal. As an educator, she has privately mentored more than 150 students in mathematics, music, standardized test preparation, and college admissions.
Nicole graduated cum laude from Yale University with distinction in both Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, completing both her B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science in four years. Her background includes machine learning research at Yale, work at the Yale Investments Office, and an internship in Investment Management at D. E. Shaw & Co.
Now based in New York City, Nicole is committed to building meaningful artistic communities and pursuing a career that bridges Broadway, opera, and the symphonic stage. Nicole remains endlessly grateful to the mentors, educators, colleagues, and communities who have shaped her journey and continue to inspire her to give fully, both on and off the podium.