BIOGRAPHY
Nigel started playing the clarinet aged 11, taught by his father Roy Hinson. At 17 he joined the Junior Royal Artillery Band at Woolwich, later going on to study at the Royal Military School Of Music Kneller Hall where he was taught clarinet by Paul Harvey. After lessons with Alan Hacker he gained a scholarship audition at the Royal Academy Of Music London where he was taught by Georgina Dobree and Keith Puddy, where he won many prizes including the John Soloman Woodwind / Brass prize. Nigel also studied conducting with Colin Metters while at the Academy. He then gained a Master's Degree at Sheffield University in performance and composition under the supervision of Colin Lawson.
Nigel was invited to be a member of the Royal Society Of Musicians London in 1995 and in 2000, Nigel became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) which is awarded to former students who have made a significant contribution to the music profession.Nigel was sponsored by Leblanc Clarinets and Vandoran reeds, touring regularly to promote the clarinet and its repertoire.
Nigel continued to play as a soloist and to record for the Veloce Classics label with Keith Puddy (Clarinet) and Malcolm Martineau (Piano), incorporating much of the clarinet repertoire. Nigel has had many clarinet works written for him including many by Paul Harvey, Paul Harris ( Encore published by Queen's Temple Publications QT 134, 2012) as well as, Ballad In Memory Of Shirley Horn by Richard Rodney Bennett (Novello NOV955735).
He is also a partner with his wife Nadia in a successful private musical school ' The Hinson School Of Music' catering for Clarinet, Saxophone, theory, Violin, Piano and composition from beginners to professionals.
Nigel is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician and as an adjudicator. He is also a regular soloist on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3 and is listed in the International Who's Who of Music and Musicians.
He was inspired by the late Big Band Clarinettist Artie Shaw, and had a correspondence with him whilst at the Royal Academy. After his death in 2005 Nigel successfully acquired Artie Shaw's favourite Buffet clarinet that was hidden in his house, he used it for the later Gramercy Five recordings of 1953-54.
Nigel currently owns and plays on Dame Thea King's buffet clarinets.
GALLERY
Nigel with Barnaby Robson at the Yamaha Clarinet day in Nottingham
Nigel's father Roy Hinson playing Tenor sax in the early 1960's
Nigel with clarinetist Michael Collins
Nigel's father Roy Hinson in the early 1970's
Nigel aged 11
Nigel aged 11
Nigel next to Elizabeth Taylor while filming for the "The Mirror cracked" in 1980
Album cover for Nigel's 2nd Album The French Collection
Nigel playing with the Nottingham Jazz Orchestra for Artie Shaw's 100th Birthday
ALBUMS
"The playing of all three artists is outstanding throughout, with many moments of high excitement contrasted with passages of beautiful sound flowing musically along."
The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain on "The English Collection"
Click the photo above to access the album on Spotify
"Congratulations on your CD: I like Scaramouche especially."
Philippe Cuper on "Morceaux for Clarinet"
MORCEAUX FOR CLARINET
Milhaud Scaramouche
1.Allegro
2.Moderato
3.Brazileira
Debussy Petite Piece
4.Petite Piece
Penderecki Three Miniatures
5.Allegro
6.Andante cantabile
7.Allegro ma non troppo
Hinson La Campanella di Povo
8.La Campanella di Povo
Martinu Sonatina
9.Sonatina
John Hall Deux Esquisses
10.Allant couramment, affable, un peux langoureux
11.Facétieux, éveillé, léger
Templeton Pocket-Size Sonata No.2
12.Moderato
13.Menuetto
14.Allegretto
Cahuzac Arlequin
15.Arlequin
Joseph Horovitz Sonatina
16.3rd Movement
"Your performance of the Bax Clarinet sonata (a favourite composer for me, and one of the loveliest works) is beautiful. Thanks also for the French Collection CD which is enchanting - and congratulations on your part in the Poulenc."
John MacCabe
The French Collection
Milhaud Duo Concertante
1.Duo Concertante
Fauré Vocalise
2.Vocalise
Saint-Saens Sonata
3.I Allegretto
4.ii Allegro animato
5.iii Lento
6.iv Molto allegro
Debussy Premiere Rapsodie
7.Premiere Rapsodie
Debussy Petite Piece
8.Petite Piece
Poulenc Duo Sonata
9.I Presto
10.ii Andante
11.iii Vif
Ravel Habanera
12.Habanera
Pierné Canzonetta
13.Canzonetta
Poulenc Sonata
14.Allegro tristamente
15.ii Romanza
16.iii Allegro con fuoco
Messager Solo de Concours
17.Solo de Concours
"The Finzi, Bax and Stanford in particular are standard repetoire which young players will be studying and I will certainly recommend this CD to my pupils as a model for the interpretation of these important works."
Paul Harvey on "The English Collection"
The English Collection
Gerald Finzi Five Bagatelles
1.Prelude - Allegro deciso
2.Romance - Andante tranquillo
3.Carol - Andantino semplice
4.Forlana - Allegretto grazioso
5.Fughetta - Allegro vivace
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford Sonata op. 129
6.Prelude - Allegro deciso
7.Coline - Adagio
8.Allegretto grazioso
Richard Rodney Bennett Crosstalk
9.Con grazia
10.Con umore
11.Con tristezza
12.Con stancio
Nigel Hinson La Campanella di Povo
13.Free
John McCabe Three Pieces
14.Nocturne - Lento
15.Improvisation - Con moto
16.Fantasy - Lento
Sir Arnold Bax Sonata
17.Molto Moderato
18.Vivace
"I loved listening to your "English Collection". What an enterprising programme."
Joseph Horovitz
To buy Nigels CD collection, contact Nigel directly or follow the link to purchase on Tutti classics:
