Nina Barwell's musical training includes a degree with honors from the New England Conservatory of Music where she studied with James Pappoutsakis, a Fulbright fellowship to study with Jean-Pierre Rampal and master classes with Marcel Moyse. She holds a master of music degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she studied with Samuel Baron. While living in Europe she concertized throughout France, was a flutist for the contemporary music ensemble of the Sorbonne, and appeared as a soloist with the Uppsala Orchestra of Sweden.

Upon returning to the United States, Ms. Barwell joined the faculty of music at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point where she taught flute, chamber music and performed with the Walden Woodwind Quintet. She has also taught at the School of Music at Ohio University, and at the School of Music at Boston University.

Ms. Barwell has presented an acclaimed debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall.  The New York Times wrote that "her playing reflected the skill and assurance of a seasoned performer," and "she played beautifully.” Ms. Barwell has been a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra. She has performed at Tanglewood, with the Berkshire Music Center Orchestra, with the San Diego Symphony for a summer season, has directed the Late Spring Baroque Festival in residence at the Brookhaven National Laboratories, L.I., New York, and for two summers performed at the Bach Aria Festival, Stony Brook, New York. Ms. Barwell has performed several times on WGBH Radio and played two solo recitals at New England Conservatory's, Jordan Hall.

Presently Ms. Barwell teaches flute and chamber music at Tufts University and directs the Tufts flute ensemble. She also teaches flute at the New England Conservatory of Music, Preparatory School and at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Ms. Barwell is an active Boston free lance flutist and plays in Symphony New Hampshire. At the 2010 National Flute Convention she gave a lecture demonstration entitledThe French Flute School comes to America: The Artistry andTeaching of James Pappoutsakis. In 2014 she completed her book, James Pappoutsakis, His Artistry and Inspired Teaching, Transcribed, Edited, and Annotated by Nina Barwell which can be  viewed on her website, ninabarwell.com.