Nikki Yanofsky

Nicole Rachel Yanofsky (born February 8, 1994) is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Montreal, Quebec. She sang the CTV Olympic broadcast theme song, "I Believe", which was also the theme song of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games hosted by Vancouver. She also performed at the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics and at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games. She has released four studio albums to date, including Nikki in 2010, Little Secret in 2014, Turn Down the Sound in 2020, and Nikki By Starlight in 2022.

Early life Yanofsky was born and raised in a "close-knit Jewish family" in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her parents are Elyssa (née Rosenthal) and Richard Yanofsky. She has two older brothers, Michael and Andrew.

Yanofsky graduated from St. George's School of Montreal,

Songwriters Stephan Moccio and Alan Frew chose Yanofsky to sing CTV's broadcast theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics, "I Believe" which is also the official theme of the 2010 Winter Olympics, which 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. The song was certified "Quadruple Platinum" for digital downloads in April 2010.

In 2010, Yanofsky recorded her first studio album, Nikki, with Phil Ramone.

Also in 2010, Yanofsky recorded a live concert at the Mercure Theatre in Montreal. and released on DVD the same month.

A 2011 jazz recording of popular Disney songs entitled Everybody Wants to Be a Cat: Disney Jazz, Volume 1 included a version of the song "It's a Small World" sung by Yanofsky. Other jazz artists on the album included Esperanza Spalding, Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, Joshua Redman, and Alfredo Rodriguez.

Yanofsky's second studio album, Little Secret, was released in Canada in May 2014. The album was executive produced by Quincy Jones.

She collaborated with Herbie Hancock and will.i.am on 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 2015 Yanofsky began collaborating with Wyclef Jean on her new album and EP. Her Solid Gold EP was released in Canada on September 30, 2016.

In August 2018, Nikki Yanofsky started teasing on her Instagram for an upcoming music video. Nikki Yanofsky has worked with Herbie Hancock, Will.i.am, Elton John and now working with her favourite artist and mentor Quincy Jones. "Big Mouth" was released on September 14, 2018.

On July 10, 2020, Yanofsky released her third studio album Turn Down the Sound. Her fourth studio album, Nikki By Starlight, was released on October 21, 2022.

Stage

Yanofsky began her professional singing career by performing at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Only 12 at the time, this performance made her the youngest performer ever to headline at the festival. She has returned each year since, including a special outdoor performance for the festival's 30th Anniversary in 2009 and a performance with l'Orchestre Métropolitain in 2011. 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, several European festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival as well as the Ginza International Jazz Festival in Japan at Kabuki-za.

On February 8, 2008, Yanofsky's 14th birthday, she kicked off a multi-city tour with Marvin Hamlisch at Carnegie Hall. In November 2008, she made her Canadian orchestral debut with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and has gone on to sing with the Vancouver Symphony, the Edmonton Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic.

With Herbie Hancock on piano, Yanofsky sang "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" at the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year awards honouring Barbra Streisand.

On April 13, 2013, Yanofsky and Stevie Wonder sang "Let the Good Times Roll" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event honoured the joint 80th birthday celebration of Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine.

The Little Secret Tour began on June 21, 2013, promoting Yanofsky's album, Little Secret.

Charitable works In 2008, Yanofsky received the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award from the Quebec Chapter of The Association of Fundraising Professionals. In the course of 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.

Yanofsky sang a solo part in the remake of K'naan's song "Wavin' Flag" performed by Young Artists for Haiti. This song was certified platinum for digital downloads in April 2010, This award is presented annually to a young Canadian who is making a positive impact in the fields of music, film, literature, visual or performing arts, sports, innovation or philanthropy.

2008

Released: September 23, 2008 Label: A440 Format: CD, digital download

2010

Label: A440/Decca Format: CD, digital download

MC: Platinum 2014

Released:CA: May 6, 2014US: October 7, 2014 Label: A440/Decca Format: CD, LP, digital download

MC: Gold 2020

Released:July 10, 2020 Label: eOne Music Format: Digital download, streaming

2022

Released:October 21, 2022 Label: MNRK Format: CD, digital download, streaming

EPs Solid Gold EP (September 2016)

Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album CAN CAN AC CAN Hot AC CAN DD CAN Jazz

FRA UK

Videography

Year Details Certifications(sales threshold) 2010 Live in Montreal Released: June 1, 2010 Label: A440/Decca Format: DVD MC: Platinum

Awards and nominations Year Presenter Award Result 2009 Juno Awards New Artist of the Year Vocal Jazz Album of the Year: Ella... of Thee I Swing Canadian Independent Music Awards Favourite Jazz Artist or Group 2010 Félix Awards English Album of the Year: Nikki Most Famous Quebec Artist Outside Quebec Canada's Walk of Fame Allan Slaight Award 2011 Juno Awards Vocal Jazz Album of the Year: Nikki Canadian Radio Music Awards Adult Contemporary Song of the Year: "I Believe" WAVE Smooth Jazz Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Album of the Year: Nikki Song of the Year: "Try, Try, Try" 2015 Juno Awards Pop Album of the Year: Little Secret