Nadia was born in Lancashire and started playing the clarinet and piano at the age of eight. By 15, she had gained her diploma on clarinet and was determined to follow a career in music. She went on to read music at the University of Birmingham specialising in performance on Clarinet, before moving down to London to study for a postgraduate diploma in performance on clarinet at Trinity College of Music with Michael Whight (Principal Clarinet of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) from 2003-2005.
Since completing her performance studies in 2005, Nadia has pursued an active career as a musician and teacher. Her orchestral playing includes several of the top UK orchestras, including the Hallé Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra amongst others. Nadia loves chamber music and is a busy chamber musician. As well as working regularly with pianist and composer Martin Butler with whom she released her debut CD ‘Clarinet Fantasies: 20th century British Music for Clarinet and Piano’ in 2018, featuring the world premiere recording of Butler’s ‘Four Characteristic Pieces.’ She is the founder member of the ‘London Myriad Ensemble.’
Nadia doubles on saxophone and flute and also enjoys show work, which has included playing in the successful west end shows such as ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The King & I,’ ‘American in Paris and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ amongst others.
Nadia is a music examiner for Trinity College, London and is also very passionate about teaching. When she is not performing, she works as a woodwind, teacher in schools and music centres around London. She is a clarinet tutor and assistant conductor for the Camden Youth Concert Band, and outreach work has included working as a tutor for the Kenya National Youth Orchestra. Nadia co-ordinated the ‘Music for Life’ project in 2015, supported by the Concordia foundation, working to support music education in Nairobi, specifically supporting music tuition at St. John’s School in the Korogocho slum and supporting Kenyan students and teachers through the sourcing of instruments and skype lessons. Nadia also has experience of providing music to babies and toddlers as a ‘monkey music’ teacher between 2011 and 2013.
Nadia lives in Croydon and is mummy to 18 months old Sofia-Rose