Nina Robertson
Nina Robertson studied at the Royal College of Music, London, where she was taught by renowned flautists Christopher Hyde-Smith and Susan Milan. During her time at the RCM, she gained a B.mus (hons) and a Dip.RCM, winning both the first year woodwind prize and the prestigious Malcolm Sargent award, the latter leading to a performance of Mozart’s flute and harp concerto with the London Sinfonietta. In 1989, she won the Birmingham heat of the Shell/LSO competition and was awarded the bronze medal in the final, performing Nielsen’s flute concerto, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, and Mendelssohn’s fourth symphony at the Barbican centre with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Nina has since enjoyed a vibrant and diverse career as an orchestral player, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Her orchestral work includes a wide range of guest principal and freelance engagements with major UK orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), Philharmonia orchestra, London Philharmonic orchestra (LPO), BBC Symphony orchestra (BBC so), BBC Concert orchestra (BBC Co), English National Opera (ENO), City of London Sinfonia (CLS), London Mozart Players (LMP), and Britten Sinfonia. She has toured internationally with the RPO and the Royal Philharmonic Concert orchestra (RPCO), performing in China, Russia, Bahrain, Paris, Germany, and Montreux, and appeared as principal flute for the Potsdam trip and alto flute in Daphnis et Chloé during the Montreux tour.
Orchestral trials have included second flute positions with the LPO, BBC CO, Welsh National Opera (WNO), and a principal flute trial with English National Ballet (ENB). She has also performed extensively as guest principal with Opera North, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), and ENB.
A sought-after session musician, Nina has featured as a soloist on numerous high-profile film scores. Her recent solo performances include the alto flute for Disney’s Aladdin (2019), Irish whistle at the BBC proms in the park for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s birthday celebration, bamboo flute for BBC radio 4’s bollywood night, and solo flute and bass flute for oscar-winner Stephen Warbeck’s scores for meant to be and glass. Her film and television work is extensive, with credits including the Grand Budapest hotel, the Hunger Games, Paddington, Mission Impossible 5 & 6, Beauty and the Beast, Mary queen of Scots, Jurassic world: fallen kingdom, Fantastic beasts: The crimes of Grindelwald, The Lion King (Disneyland Paris reboot), and many others. She has also collaborated with artists such as Robbie Williams and Ariana Grande.
In theatre, Nina has performed for productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), The National Theatre, and across the West End, with deputy appearances in shows including The Beautiful Game, Bombay dreams, Les misérables, Phantom of the opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked, and The Lion King, among others. As principal flute with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO), she has contributed to award-winning performances of Evita, Love never dies, and A Christmas carol. Nina is an active chamber musician, performing as a member of the Hampton trio (flute, cello, and piano) and in a duo partnership with pianist Paul Jeanes.
Alongside her performance career, Nina is a passionate educator. She has taught flute at Notting Hill and Ealing high school for girls for over 25 years, is an assistant flute professor at the British Isles music festival run by Susan Milan, and has served as an external examiner for Trinity Laban, the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), and Birmingham Conservatoire. She has given masterclasses at Trinity Laban and regularly teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire. Her education outreach work with the LCO and RPO has involved projects with children with severe special needs, young people in mental health units, and work in prisons.
Nina specialises in a wide range of instruments including the concert flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, irish whistle, bansurai, panpipes, and recorders (descant, treble, tenor). In recognition of her distinguished career, she was elected a member of the Royal Society of Musicians in 2016.