Nikki Yanofsky is just 16 years old. Still, this young Canadian talent's voice is one of the most famous of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She sings I Believe - the song that's become the official anthem for the Games.
Canadian Crooner
Nikki Yanofsky was born on February 8, 1994 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She's young, but she's already a well-known Canadian jazz-pop singer who has performed internationally at jazz festivals and major concert venues both solo and with such famous artists as Wyclef Jean, Celine Dion, Marvin Hamlisch and The Count Basie Orchestra. Nikki's also special because, due to her amazing voice, she was chosen to sing Canada's National Anthem at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. She's also the artist who recorded the newest No. 1 hit - I Believe - which has been the definining song of this year's Olympic Games.
Nikki's Music
Before she sand the hit I Believe, Nikki recorded the Ella Fitzgerald classic Airmail Special for Verve Records in June 2007 on the album We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song. This track made Nikki the youngest singer ever to record for Verve! She 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.
After that, Nikki 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. In September 2008, she released her first full-length album – a live CD/DVD concert package called Ella... Of Thee I Swing. This record earned Nikki two Juno Award nominations in 2009 for 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.
Nikki's Charity
In 2008, Nikki received the Outstanding Youth In Philanthropy award from the The Association of Fundraising Professionals for her help in raising 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.
Video: Nikki's Voice
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