Nina Kopparhed

Nina made her professional UK singing debut in November 2011, performing Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate with the Dunblane Chamber Orchestra, and has since been working as an oratorio soloist,  recitalist and  opera singer. Nina has given performances in England, Scotland, Sweden, Italy, Brazil and Bolivia. 

Recent oratorio solos include: Handel: Dixit Dominus, Mendelssohn: Elijah, Haydn: Creation, Handel: Messiah, Mozart Requiem, Haydn Kleine Orgelmesse, Vaughan Williams Mass, Charpentier: Te Deum and Bach: Magnificat.

Nina made her operatic debut in August 2012 as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and her Professional operatic debut, again as Susanna, with a new company, VoiceArc, in March, 2015.

Recent roles include Ilia (Idomeneo): Rose Opera, Oct 2019, Celia (Iolanthe), Nov 2019; Brigitta (Iolanta), Rose Opera, Mar 2019;  Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos), OCMC, Jun 2018;  Lucia (Nino Rota: I due Timidi), Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), the Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), as well as "Zerlina" in Time Zone Theatre's Mozart Medley "A Night in Vienna" on Tour. 

more details of Nina's operatic work can be found on Nina's Opera page

Nina also has a passion for contemporary music, and recently performed as part of the world premiere of "Invisible Effect", written by Platon Buravicky, choreographed by Kirill Burlov. It was written for the Baltic100, and features contemporary ballet, accompanied by soprano, clarinet, cello and piano (and percussion, played by all of the musicians). It was performed at the Pleasance Theatre in September 2018. Recent premieres of song cycles include Anthony Esland's "The Amherst Chronicles in 2019" and Neil Crossland's "Songs of Travel and Rest" in 2018, both at the Harrow Summer Music Festival.

Nina will be recording Anthony Esland's The Amherst Chronicles in April 2020.

Nina also works as a soloist for weddings, funerals and corporate events.

Photo credit: Sussie Mellstedt

Nina was a choral scholar (at Nacka Musikklasser) in her teens but then concentrated on her viola playing: she gained a BMus(Hons) and PGDip from the Birmingham Conservatoire, studying with Rivka Golani. During her studies, Nina took part in the CBSO Training Scheme and received a Young Cygnet Award.

Nina then worked for many years as a professional viola player: in the UK, Nina has freelanced with orchestras such as the RSNO and Scottish Ballet, as well as freelance orchestras such as the English Heritage Orchestra, English Festival Orchestra, Raymond Gubbay, Bampton Opera (Principal Viola) and many others. 

Nina was also a keen chamber musician, playing with ensembles such as the Solaris quartet, the Britton Quintet, Permira Ensemble and the Midgard Ensemble (US based). 

Nina's next appearance as a singer was in 2006 when she was working as principal viola with an orchestra in Brazil. During a tour of Bolivia the soprano soloist was taken ill on the day of a concert and Nina was asked to step in at the last minute, not having performed as a singer since her choral scholar days. Her performance was well received and she was asked back to perform several more times as a soprano soloist with the orchestra.

When Nina returned to the UK in 2008 she started having singing lessons with the internationally renowned soprano, Judith Howarth, all the time continuing her work as a freelance viola player.

Other previous teachers include Dr Nell Drew (Edinburgh) and Neil Howlett (London). 

Most recent teacher: Deborah York (2020, through OPB).

Singing Courses include the National Opera Studio (Opera intensive course, 2015), Hoxton Opera Studio (2016), Melofonetica intensive course in Italy (2018), and Opera Programs Berlin (2020): Historical Performance Program 1580-1750.

Nina still freelances as a violinist and viola player, mostly as a chamber musician, which she has always had a passion for.

Photo credit: Sussie Mellstedt