Naomi Crellin (alto, musical director The Idea of North) graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice from the Elder Conservatorium – University of Adelaide after beginning on classical piano. She has been a member of many choirs, orchestras and ensembles throughout her career. In addition, Naomi has studied a broad range of musical instruments including piano, cello and oboe.
She won the Young Australian Composer of the Year Award (1996) and Best Undergraduate Vocalist Award (2001) from the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Naomi has also studied classical, jazz and contemporary voice, conducting, piano and jazz ballet, and has taught piano, vocal, and choral students for many years. Educating vocalists of all ages and ability levels in the niche art of small group ensemble singing is her specialty and her passion.
After joining The Idea of North in early 2002, Naomi quickly became a significant contributor to the group’s repertoire through her writing and arranging and has also utilised her extensive choral training and experience in taking a major responsibility for managing the group’s musical affairs and educational activities.
During the Covid years Naomi obtained a Graduate Diploma of Counselling and now happily divides her time between counselling, singing, directing choirs, and writing. In 2024 Naomi started Nexus NDV, a high level harmony singing group for neurodivergent young adults. When she is not doing one of these many activities, Naomi can be found hiking, playing netball, attempting to keep her children off screens, or with a cat in her lap and her nose buried in a good novel.