Nicola Boud

Born in Perth, Australia, Nicola is one of the most sought after historical clarinet players of her generation. She obtained her Bachelor of Music with first class honors from the University of Western Australia and during her studies she began to play with the Australian Chamber Orchestra both on modern and historical clarinet. She completed her Masters in historical performance at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague with Eric Hoeprich in 2004. Based in Gent, Belgium, she tours and records extensively, and is principal clarinet with Ensemble Pygmalion (R.Pichon) l’Orchestre des Champs Élysées (Ph.Herreweghe), and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique / English Baroque Soloists. She is regularly invited as guest principal with Freiburger Barockorchester, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Concerto Copenhagen, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra…. As a chamber musician, Nicola collaborates with Kristian Bezuidenhout, Anthony Romaniuk, Cambini and Edding Quartets, and Ensemble Marsyas amongst others, and has performed in recital at many prestigious festivals including Edinburgh International Festival, Bruges Musica Antiqua Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Accademia delle Crete Senesi, Amsterdam Concertgebouw Robeco Zomerconcerten and Wigmore Hall. She toured nationally in recital for Musica Viva Australia in 2025. Nicola recorded the Mozart clarinet quintet with the Edding Quartet and the Schubert Octet with Northernlight both to critical acclaim, and she recently released the Brahms Opus 120 Clarinet Sonatas with pianist Anthony Romaniuk. Future releases include the Mozart Clarinet concerto with Gli Angeli. As soloist she has performed concerti in Europe and Asia with the l’Orchestre des Champs Eysées, Academy of Ancient Music, Concerto Copenhagen, and Il Gardellino in venues such as the Theatre Des Champs Elysées in Paris, The Megaron in Athens and at the Barbican Centre in London. A dedicated educator, Nicola was professor of historical clarinet at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP) from 2021-2024 and is currently teacher of historical clarinet at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.