Nova's mid-high social class in 20th century Colombia traditionally prescribed women learn to play either piano, guitar, or sing in order to be considered respectable ladies.
[2] She then traveled to Buenos Aires on a scholarship from the Instituto Torcuato Di Tella for further studies in composition at Centro Latinoamericano de Altos Estudios.
Collaborations with other fields such as visual arts, theatre, and cinema led to a large amount of experimental and graphic elements in her scores.
Her works have been performed in Venezuela, Panama, Spain, Brazil, United States, Argentina, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, and Austria.
Between 1969 and 1970, Nova directed Asimetrías, a Radiodifusora Nacional radio series which presented 22 sessions of new music works and analysis.
[6] In 1970 she established the New Music Group to perform works by living composers, with special emphasis on Latin America, but because of her health, the ensemble had limited engagements.