Nikki's Bio
Nikki Yanofsky is a 15-year-old musical prodigy. Since her debut at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival where she won the hearts of the 100,000+ audience, Nikki has never looked back. She was the youngest singer ever on a Verve Records release when she recorded “Airmail Special†for the Ella Fitzgerald tribute album, We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song, alongside such musical luminaries as Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Krall and Natalie Cole. She has also recorded the swing-era classic, “Stompin’ at the Savoy†with Grammy Award-winning artists Herbie Hancock and Will.i.am for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s audio book, On the Shoulders of Giants. Also, in the realm of popular music, Nikki was asked to record “Gotta Go My Own Way†for Disney’s smash hit High School Musical 2. The song was included in French and English on the Canadian release of the soundtrack as well as in the bonus features of the DVD which was released worldwide.
Along with playing to sold-out crowds in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montego Bay, Nikki has shared the stage with multi-award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, performed with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra and collaborated with renowned hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean. She has been broadcast internationally on PBS’s youth talent showcase From the Top and seen as a feature artist on YTV’s The Next Star. Nikki has used her budding fame to help the underprivileged as well, becoming an ambassador for both the Montreal Children’s Hospital and oneXone, a non-profit foundation that is committed to supporting, preserving and improving the lives of children in Canada and around the world. To date, Nikki has been involved in events that have raised over six-million dollars for local, national and international charities.
In anticipation of Nikki’s first solo album, which she is currently recording with 14-time Grammy Award-winning producer Phil Ramone, she released Ella… of Thee I Swing, a live CD and DVD, on September 23rd, 2008. Nikki continues to receive top-tier invitations on a daily basis: she already has bookings with Marvin Hamlisch with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pops Orchestra; she will share the stage once again with Wyclef Jean at the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival and will headline at the 2009 Sapporo Jazz Festival next summer.
Check out more about Nikki at
NikkiOnline.ca
From CTV's Telethon of Stars 2008
Ella... of Thee I Swing Concert DVD Highlights
