Biography
At age fifteen, Nina made her debut as a soloist with the Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra. She has held recitals at the Slavko Osterc Hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic and the Ljubljana Town Hall (organized by Ljubljana Musical Youth). She was also invited to perform in Telč, Czech Republic, during the city’s UNESCO anniversary celebration.
As an active performer, Nina collaborates with ensembles such as the Slovenian Police Orchestra, the Slovenian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of Hochschule für Musik Basel. She has also performed as an E-flat clarinetist with the Ljubljana Academy of Music Clarinet Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, Nina was a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Young, one of the world's most prestigious youth orchestras, and in 2023, she joined the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra.
She has refined her artistry through masterclasses with renowned clarinetists including Calogero Palermo, Olivier Patey, Nuno Pinto, Andreas Schablas, Hari Mäki, Jean-Marc Fessard, Gábor Varga, and others.
Since 2023, Nina has been a scholar of the Slovenian Ministry of Culture, further supporting her dedication to artistic excellence and international performance.
Most recently, in March 2025, she won first prize and received a special award for the interpretation of the obligatory piece at the TEMSIG – Competition of Young Slovenian Musicians.
Nina Pavšek (born 2003) is a Slovenian clarinetist currently studying under Professor François Benda at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. She completed her studies at the Ljubljana Music and Ballet Conservatory under Professor Jože Kotar, where she established herself as one of the most promising young clarinetists of her generation.
Nina has secured numerous awards and laureate titles at international competitions, including the Città di Carlino Clarinet Competition in Italy (third prize in 2019 and first prize in 2022), the Giacomo Mensi Clarinet Competition in Italy (first prize in 2019), the Distant Chords Competition in Croatia (first prize in 2019), and the Davorin Jenko International Competition in Serbia (first prize in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023). She also earned top honors at the Competition of Woodwinds in Požarevac, Serbia (first prizes in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018), and received multiple accolades at the TEMSIG – Competition of Young Slovenian Musicians, including a golden plaque in 2016 and 2019, a silver plaque, and third prize in 2022. Additionally, Nina won first prize and laureate recognition at the Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Competition, along with the special Rotary Club Varaždin Award. She was a finalist at the Silverstein Clarinet Contest (2020) and the International Competition UniWind (2021), both held at the Slovenian Philharmonic.
Foto: Robi Verbajs