Born in Perth, Australia, Nicola Boud 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 Conservatoire in the Hague with Eric Hoeprich in 2004.

Based in Belgium, Nicola tours and records extensively, and is in demand as principal clarinet with many orchestras and ensembles including l’Orchestre des Champs Elysees (Ph.Herreweghe), Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique / English Baroque Soloists (J.E.Gardiner), Ensemble Pygmalion (R Pichon) Concerto Copenhagen (L.U Mortensen), Dunedin Consort, Le Concert Spirituel (H.Niquet) Freiburger Barockorchester, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra....

With these ensembles she has recorded for Harmonia Mundi, Naïve, Etcetera, Passacaille, Phi, Ondine, Virgin Classics, Fuga Libera, Decca, Erato...

Nicola is an equally active chamber musician, regularly performing with the fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout, the Cambini and Edding Quartets, and Ensemble Marsyas and has performed at many prestigious festivals including Edinburgh, Saintes, Bruges, Boston Early Music Festival , Accademia delle Crete Senesi , Amsterdam Concertgebouw Robeco Zomerconcerten and Wigmore Hall. She recorded the Mozart clarinet quintet with the Edding Quartet for the label Etcetera to critical acclaim, and the Schubert Octet with Edding Quartet/ Northernlight for the label Phi.

As soloist she has performed in Europe and Asia with the Orchestre des Champs Eysees, Academy of Ancient Music, Concerto Copenhagen, Il Gardellino and Le Cercle de l’Harmonie in venues such as the Theatre Des Champs Elysees in Paris, and at the Barbican Centre in London.

Nicola is also teaches at Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP).