I was always a very creative person and although MHSG is highly academic, I felt that my creative spirit was constantly nurtured and supported at school.

At Grangethorpe Road I was a member of the orchestra where I played viola and I also took piano and singing lessons. Outside of school I was part of the Laudamus Girls Choir (Wigan), the Bolton Youth Orchestra, New Century Strings and I had my own string quartet. I was classically trained in singing and I also play viola, piano, santoor and tabla.

I performed one of my first songs ‘Goodbye’ at MHSG for all of my year and teachers on my last day of school. It was really inspiring as everyone came up to me and congratulated me – mostly in tears!

After leaving MHSG I achieved an A in A Level Music. I then moved to London and studied Popular Music at Goldsmiths University where I obtained a 2:1.

Now, I am a full-time musician, performing, writing and recording. I have a residency at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre in London as ‘Emerging Artist in Residence’.

I have enjoyed performing at the Brighton Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Millennium Dome and the NEC. I previously sang solo on BBC Songs of Praise, Radio 4 Manchester and I performed at the Bridgewater Hall in collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bolton Youth Orchestra. I have also performed live on BBC Asian Network Radio.

I have had the opportunity to work with many established musicians including Nitin Sawhney, Mad Professor, Ojos de Brujo and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and I love what I do.

If you would like to hear my music please visit: www.myspace.com/nilaraja. I have just released my EP: Unattached to Desire, which will be available on iTunes.