Biography

Nino Russell, known professionally as ZOLLINO, is a British composer. His music has been performed internationally at the Philharmonie Berlin, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, CBSO Centre, Leeds Lieder Festival, and the Royal College of Music, and broadcast on RTP, Amazon Prime Video, ITV, and Transmission RoundHouse, among others.

ZOLLINO is currently studying towards a Doctor of Music (DMus) in Composition at the Royal College of Music under the supervision of Alison Kay and Diana Salazar, supported by the Frank Bridge Studentship and the Kit and John Gander Award. His research into generative, modular, and reactive compositional systems are explored within a series of five new works, Constellations, that have been premiered by the RCM New Perspectives, Gulbenkian Orchestra, and the Hermes Experiment, among others.

ZOLLINO holds a Master of Composition (MComp) with Distinction from the Royal College of Music, and a Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Composition with First Class Honours from the London College of Music, supported by the Nina Williams Scholarship. He has studied with Kaija Saariaho, Gilbert Nuono, Nigel Clayton, Jonathan Cole, David Osbon, Francis Potts, Simon Rigby, and Roger Cawkwell.

ZOLLINO is also an experienced music educator, having taught at leading institutions across the UK, including Brighton College Prep Kensington, Abingdon House Prep Kensington, Kent College, and the Royal College of Music, and in the US at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts.

ZOLLINO was born in Staffordshire in 1994. He adopted his mother’s maiden name, ZOLLINO, to pay homage to his Italian heritage. He now resides in London with his fiancé, Alexander, and their British Shorthair cat, Dorian.

Experience

2024 — 2025

Composer
Storybook Series
Pelican Music

Music Teacher
Brighton College Prep Kensington

2023 — 2025

Music Teacher
Abingdon House Prep Kensington

2022 — 2023

Composer
Down the Rabbit Hole
Charlotte Hoather

Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Composition for Screen
Royal College of Music

2021 — 2022

Composition Teacher
Finchley Catholic High School

2018 — 2020

Composition Teacher
Kent College

2017 — 2018

Composer
HEX
Rubicon Films

2016 — 2017

Composer
Follow the Sun
David Osbon
London College of Music

Composer
Team Wild TV

2013 — 2016

Composer
MWM Associates

2012 — 2013

Musical Director
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts

Education

2018 — 2025

Doctor of Music (DMus) in Composition
Frank Bridge Studentship
Kit and John Gander Award
Royal College of Music

2016 — 2018

Master of Composition (MComp), Distinction
Royal College of Music

2012 — 2015

Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Composition, First Class Honours
Nina Williams Scholarship
London College of Music

Qualifications

2022

Safeguarding in Music Education Training Certificate
Child Protection Company

2018

Registered Private Teacher Status
Incorporated Society of Musicians

2018

Enhanced DBS Certificate
Disclosure and Barring Service

2014

Apple Certified Pro, Logic Pro
Apple

Awards

2019

Frank Bridge Studentship
Royal College of Music

2018

Kit and John Gander Award
Royal College of Music

Theodore Holland Intercollegiate Composition Prize
Royal Academy of Music

2017

RCM Film Orchestra Competition, Winner
Royal College of Music

2016

Ealing Music Festival Composition Prize, 1st Place
Ealing Music Festival

2015

Nina Williams Scholarship
London College of Music