Heidi Baader-Nobs was born Heidi Nobs on 5 December 1940 in Delémont, Switzerland.[1] She studied violin and piano at school, and then trained as a teacher at the Ecole Normale in Delémont.[3] Baader-Nobs first trained in violin at the Basel Music Academy under Rodolfo Felicani, but after recurrent problems with inflammation of her right arm, she gave up playing violin.[4] She studied composition and music theory with Robert Suter and Jacques Wildberger, also at the Basel Music Academy.[1][2] Baader-Nobs compositions use dodecaphonic (twelve-tone) and serial techniques.[1] Later works show her interest in graphic scores.[1] Her compositions are considered to be influenced by the work of Pierre Boulez and Iannis Xenakis.[3] Baader-Nobs has composed for orchestra, chamber orchestra, piano, electronic keyboard, and has also written vocal music.[3]
Baader-Nobs was commissioned to compose a piece for the Festival frauenkomponiert (Women Composed) 2018. Baader-Nobs composed the piece Evasion, scored for solo viola and orchestra.[4] The piece premiered on 11 March 2018, at the French Church, Berne.[4][5]
Baader-Nobs settled in Allschwil, and is married to Claudius Baader and has three children.[4] She interrupted her career in the 1970s to meet her family responsibilities, but later returned to composing in 1980.[6]
