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Nicole "Nikki" Yanofsky (born February 8, 1994) is a Canadian jazz-pop singer from Hampstead, Quebec. She is involved in charitable causes, and released her first studio album on her own label, A440 Entertainment, and on Decca Records outside of Canada. Yanofsky sang Canada's national anthem at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She also performed during the closing ceremonies and the Paralympic opening ceremony.

Recordings

Yanofsky recorded the Ella Fitzgerald classic "Airmail Special" for Verve Records and it was released in June 2007 on the album We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song. Produced by Tommy LiPuma, this track made Yanofsky the youngest singer ever to record for Verve.

Nikki then recorded "Gotta Go My Own Way" in English and French for Walt Disney’s smash hit High School Musical 2. The track was included as bonus material on the worldwide release of the Blu-ray, DVD and Soundtrack CD.

Following that, she collaborated with Grammy Award-winning musicians Herbie Hancock and Will.i.am (from The Black Eyed Peas) to record a crossover version of the swing era hit "Stompin' at the Savoy". It was released on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audio book, On the Shoulders of Giants.

In September 2008, Yanofsky released her first full-length album, a live CD/DVD concert package entitled Ella... Of Thee I Swing. Supported by her production company, A440 Entertainment, Inc. and distributed in Canada and Japan by Universal Music, it garnered critical acclaim and earned her two Juno Award nominations in 2009: 'New Artist of the Year' and 'Vocal Jazz Album of the Year'. She also won 'Favourite Jazz Artist' at the 2009 Canadian Independent Music Awards.

Songwriters Stephan Moccio and Alan Frew chose Yanofsky to sing CTV’s broadcast theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics, "I Believe", which hit the airwaves in late January 2010 and was played throughout the Olympics on all of CTV’s media partners.

Yanofsky recorded her first studio album with 14-time Grammy Award-winning producer Phil Ramone. Along with the album-release of "I Believe", it includes some of Yanofsky’s first original works—writing in collaboration with Jesse Harris (of Norah Jones fame) as well as fellow Canadian songwriters Ron Sexsmith and Feist. It was released in April 2010 and will be supported by an international tour.

"I Believe" reached number one on the Canadian Hot 100 on the week of February 27, 2010. This made her the first Canadian artist to have a number one song on that chart since "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne topped the chart in 2007.

Stage

Yanofsky began her professional singing career by performing at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival. This performance made her the youngest performer ever to headline at this festival. She has returned to this festival each year since, culminating in 2009 with a very special outdoor performance for the festival’s 30th Anniversary. Her other Canadian festival performances include Toronto (Luminato and Downtown), Ottawa (Jazz and Blues), Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Fredericton. Her international festival appearances include two visits to The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival as well as the Ginza International Jazz Festival in Japan where she played to a full house at Tokyo's historic Kabuki-za.

On February 8, 2008 – her fourteenth birthday – Yanofsky kicked off a multi-city tour with famed composer and conductor, Marvin Hamlisch at Carnegie Hall. This tour included appearances at other world-class venues such as Avery Fisher Hall, also in New York, as well as The Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C. This tour also included stops in Seattle, San Diego, Milwaukee and even her hometown of Montreal. In November 2008 she made her Canadian orchestral debut with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and since then has gone on to sing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for a tribute to Oscar Peterson as well as the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra – both conducted by Canadian pianist, Senator and Order of Canada officer, Tommy Banks.

Yanofsky has performed the Canadian and American National Anthems at several sporting events including Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre, Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, Florida Panthers at The BankAtlantic Center, a Montreal NASCAR event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the 2008 Grey Cup at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Most recently, she performed at the Stanley Cup playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on May 22, 2010.

Other interesting venues where Yanofsky has performed are the Bell Centre for both an appearance with Wyclef Jean as well as a solo performance at UNICEF’s Unite Against Aids benefit. She also performed a private concert for The Globe and Mail in front of the Library of Celsus at the 2000-year-old Ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.

In July 2010, Yanofsky performed at Napa Valley's Festival del Sole.

Television

Yanofsky has appeared on most major Canadian television stations including CTV (Canada AM, eTalk), CBC (The National), Global (ET Canada), MuchMusic (MuchOnDemand), Radio-Canada (Tout le monde en parle) Télé-Québec (Belle et Bum), and TVA (On n’a pas toute la soirée). She has also appeared as a featured artist on YTV’s The Next Star.

She also can be seen with Wyclef Jean singing and performing the opening sequence to The Children’s Television Workshop’s 2008 revival of their hit show, The Electric Company. She also appeared alongside Wyclef in a music video called "Electric City" for the same show, choreographed by The Lombard Twins.

On December 31, 2009, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams interviewed Yanofsky. She has also appeared on the KTLA morning show in Los Angeles as well as being the first crossover artist on PBS’ youth talent showcase From the Top.

Yanofsky appeared on television during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver to sing "O Canada", the Canadian national anthem. Canada's broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies on CTV concluded with Yanofsky's full-length version of "I Believe" written by Stephan Moccio and Alan Frew. She also later performed at the Olympic closing ceremony and the Paralympic opening ceremony. She performed the National Anthem and O'Canada for the Canadiens-Flyers 2010 NHL Playoff game on May 22.

Charitable works

In 2008, Yanofsky received the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award from the Quebec Chapter of The Association of Fundraising Professionals. Over her career, she has helped raise over $10 Million for local, national and international charities. She is currently associated with The Montreal Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Wish Foundation and MusiCounts. She has also lent her voice to oneXone, Leave Out Violence Everywhere (L.O.V.E.) and ORT.

Nikki Yanofsky sang a solo part on the remake of K'naan's song "Wavin' Flag" performed by Young Artists for Haiti. All proceeds from the single went to charities.

She was awarded the Allan Slaight award by Canada's Walk of Fame in October 2010.

Personal life

Yanofsky was born and raised in a "close-knit Jewish family" in Hampstead, a Montreal suburb. Her parents, Richard and Elyss, manage her career. She now attends St. George's School of Montreal.

Credits

Discography

Albums

Singles

Videography

DVDs

Awards and nominations

References

1. Chisling, Matthew (1994-02-08). "Nikki Yanofsky". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
2. ^ Chisling, Matthew. "Nikki Yanofsky: Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
3. "Nikki Yanofsky". CHUMFM.com. nikkionline.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
4. "Artist: Nikki Yanofsky". Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
5. "Concert: Nikki Yanofsky". Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
6. Mester, Ilan (22 January 2010). "Nikki Yanofsky Sings Olympic Theme Song". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
7. May 22nd, 2010 National Anthems sung by Nikki Yanofsky Canadiens Vs Flyers on YouTube
8. Williams, Brian (31 December 2009). "'The day I think I'm the best is a bad day'". NBC News. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
9. "Nikki Yanofsky receives first-ever Walk of Fame award for young Canadian". Winnipeg Free Press. 2010-04-10. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
10. ^ "Yanofsky making inroads into U.S. market". The Canadian Jewish News. April 6, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
11. ^ "Olympics: Nikki Yanofsky inspires hometown pride". The Montreal Gazette. April 14, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
12. "Nikki Yanofsky Shines On PBS, 'nikki Yanofsky: Live In Montreal' Dvd Out June 1, 2010 @ Top40-Charts.com – Songs from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
13. "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum – January 2005". Cria.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
14. "I Got Rhythm by Nikki Yanofsky – Song Analysis | ITunes Music Chart Archive". Music-chart.info. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
15. "Cool My Heels by Nikki Yanofsky – Song Analysis | ITunes Music Chart Archive". Music-chart.info. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-10-06.

External links

• Official website
• Decca Records – Nikki Yanofsky
• Nikki's Interview with JSYK.com

Template:Persondata

• 1994 births
• Living people
• Anglophone Quebec people
• Canadian child singers
• Canadian female singers
• Canadian jazz singers
• Musicians from Quebec
• People from Montreal