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Ninon Valder

Flautist - Bandoneonist - Composer

About Me

Born in the South of France under the name of Ninon Barbara Foiret. She grew up in the village of Valderiès, in the Tarn, where she took her stage name Ninon Valder. She was submerged by the sounds of the Occitan musics which she dances and plays and also at a very early age she started listening to world and classical music. At 8 years old she began the traverse flute, she graduated from Nantes Conservatoire of classical music in flute and chamber music in 1996. She studied the bandoneon in Paris with Juan José Mosalini, and graduated in 2009. She also studied with Dino Saluzzi. Curious of crossing borders, cultures, or arts and accessing popular musics she did a Master’s degree in jazz performance at Leeds College of Music (2004). She studied North Indian classical music with Darambhir Singh (2005-07). She graduated in jazz arrangement with Carine Bonnefoy, and studies vocal technique with Martina Catella.

In Paris, she has participated in some fusion projects: Manacuba, Rido Bayonne Orchestra with whom she records, went on tour in Africa and participates in big festivals (Montreux, Orleans). There she has met Etienne M’Bappé, Paco Sery, Mokthar Samba ... She worked with Denis Barbier in Flute UNlimited, alongside Marianne Bitran. She also created new work of contemporary music, in particular from Claire Mélanie Sinnhuber, or Marco Suarez. In London she lead the 5tet of tango for Ballet Boyz, and with them has participated in the reopening of the Royal Hall festival. They performed in Covent Garden, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Buckingham Palace and Sadler Wells (2008/09). As a bandoneon soloist she performed Piazzolla’s 4 seasons with string orchestra at Bollington festival in 2009, and in 5tet with violins virtuoso Vasko Vassiliev in 2008. She has been looking for a long time into the relationship between music and text. She composes for Théâtre de l’Ombrelle (Paris), dance company Robinsons (Claude Magne) and Theatre of the Dales (UK). She also worked as musical director for Flamenco flamen’ ka at the Lyric Theatre (London) in 2008, staged by Craig Revel Hor- wood. In 2004 she realized her solo show Perles secrètes (Secret Pearls) under the direction of Serge Alvarez. She composes and realises soundtracks for movies: Vincent Vergone’s Héliotrope (scratched film), Danica Bijeljac’s “Un passant dans le temps qui passe, une ombre au soleil” (photos), Pauline Coste’s “Lamento” and “L’Hotel encore un peu” and John Coombes’ “Babbling fools” and “Chairs”. During her visit in Argentina in 2011, Ninon was named Personalidad Destacada de la Cultura (Culture Outstanding personality) by the Esteban Echeverria municipality (province of Buenos Aires) for her contemporary and folk show “Mon Argentine imaginaire” (My imaginary Argentina).

She plays in duo with Nicolás “ Colacho “ Brizuela, on Argentinian music.