Biography
Born and raised in the city of Tirane, Albania, Nela started her musical journey by having violin lessons at a young age. Soon after, she decided to try the flute and experienced an instant attraction to it. Although she loved both instruments, flute became her first choice. She obtained her flute Degree at the National Music Academy in Tirana, followed subsequently with her move to Johannesburg, where she settled and continued to study and freelance regularly.
During her years in South Africa, Nela earned her MMus Degree in flute performance with distinction, studying with professor John Hinch at the the University of Pretoria. During this period, she also obtained her Licentiate in Flute performance from UNISA,(University of South Africa). She has also benefited enormously from studying flute privately in the past with Malane Hofmeyer Burger in Johannesburg and Robert Manasse and Diane Clarke in England. Most memorable masterclasses have been while attending the Oxford Flute Summer School playing for Robert Win,while other distinctive masterclasses were with Trevor Wye and Paul Edmund-Davis to name a few.
Nela freelanced regularly with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannesburg Music Initiative Orchestra, Sara Gon Productions, Kerygma Choir in Belfast and more recently with Sinfonia of Birmingham in England, engaging in various areas of live music, from classical concerts to choral events and festivals, ballet productions and educational projects.
Prior to South Africa, Nela was offered the opportunity to perform for a few live TV and Theatre productions in her home city, Tirana. She was awarded first prize in the Albanian National Competition "Songs of the Earth". Nela had her debut performance as a soloist with the Albanian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, performing a work by an Albanian composer N.Kolliqi and the concert was broadcast live on the Albanian National TV.
Away from music, Nela enjoys long walks with her dog, painting,traveling and spending time with friends over a good, strong cup of coffee.
Nela plays on an Altus Limited Flute and a Burkart Professional Grenadilla Piccolo.