A native of Russia, Dariya Nikolenko began her musical studies at age seven and made her first concerto appearance at nine performing the C.P.E Bach Concerto in D minor. Just recently she has appeared as a soloist with Ransom Wilson, flute, performing Martin Bresnick’s Double Flute Concerto Pan Penseroso with Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale.

Ms. Nikolenko is a dedicated orchestral musician. She has appeared with many ensembles such as Yale Philharmonia under the guidance of Maestro Peter Oundjian, Manhattan School of Music Chamber Sinfonia coached by famous Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Peabody Symphony Orchestra lead by Maestro Marin Alsop, Summer Opera Company in Washington DC, and Moritzburg Chamber Music Orchestra in Germany.  Dariya is also an active new music performer and has been a part of New Music New Haven orchestra series, which has premiered many new music works of outstanding Yale composers.

Dariya has won First prize and the Grand prize in USA International Music Competition in Boston in 2010, the first prizes in Baltimore Music Club Winds and Brass Competition in 2008 and 2010, the 'New Names' International Competition in Moscow, the International Competition for Flutists in Yalgava, Latvia, and she has won additional prizes at the Beethoven Competition in Moscow, Russia as well as the International Competition in Novosibirsk, and was a semi-finalist of the Frank Bowen Young Artist Competition in New Mexico. Ms. Nikolenko has also been awarded Frances Wickes and Keith Wilson scholarships, and Yale School of Music scholarship along with Peabody Grant.

Dariya has taken part in the Internationale Meisterkurse with Marina Piccinini in Zürich, Switzerland, and the Moritzburg Festival Academy in Germany, and has performed in master classes for Robert Langevin, Maxence Larrieu, Jeffrey Khaner, Emmanuel Pahud, and Jim Walker. She has also appeared at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage as a part of Yale Percussion Group and at Weill Racital Hall in Carnegie Hall with Yale guitarists.

Ms. Nikolenko graduated with honors from the Moscow Academic College of the Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with Uriy N. Dolzhikov, from Johns Hopkins' Peabody Conservatory with Bachelor of Music Degree where she studied with Marina Piccinini and Yale School of Music with Master of Music Degree where she studied with Ransom Wilson. She is currently attending Manhattan School of Music where she is pursuing a prestigious Professional Studies Certificate Program in Orchestral Flute under the guidance of Robert Langevin.

Ms. Nikolenko has taught undergraduate minor flute students at Yale University from 2009-2011. She actively teaches in the community and has experience with students of various ages.