Vladimir Nikolov is a composer whose works cover a wide range of musical languages and genres, using backgrounds in classical music and jazz as point of departure. He has been ‘behind the scenes’ of worldwide orchestral projects as arranger for some time now, while also frequently performing as conductor and guitarist with renowned soloists and ensembles.

He was born 1979 and raised in Skopje, Macedonia. He started music at the age of 14, beginning with the guitar. Soon after, he enrolled in classical guitar studies, graduating with an original composition. Deeply inspired by the mentorship of composer and arranger Ilija Pejovski, Vladimir began cross-over composing and arranging. After departing for the Netherlands in the autumn of 2002, he started jazz composition and arranging studies with Jurre Haanstra, at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He finished his Master’s studies in 2005 with focus on writing for large ensembles. His composition portfolio includes works for piano, guitar, chamber ensembles, Big Band and Symphony Orchestra.

As arranger, Vladimir worked with ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Brussels Philharmonic, Heritage Orchestra, BBC Radio Orchestra. Among the collaborative artists, he worked with: John Clayton, Randy Brecker, Vince Mendoza, Chaka Khan, Jules Buckley, Jacob Collier, to name but a few. Many of these projects were recorded and published through major record labels and performed in major concert halls throughout the world.

As composer and producer, he published three studio albums with the semi-large ensemble Nikolov-Ivanović Undectet. JazzTimes magazine reviewed this ensemble as “groundbreaking, among the most creative current large jazz ensembles in Europe”, while Downbeat magazine reviewed the music as “rhythmically complex, harmonically evocative compositions, all impeccably arranged.”

He’s often part of film projects as orchestrator and musician, among which Oscar winner “The Artist” (FR), “Clear History” (US) and “Punk’s Not Dead” (MK). He also orchestrated the Grammy awarded arrangement of the retake of “All Night Long” by Jacob Collier (2020).

He won numerous prizes for his compositions and arrangements for Big Band, as well as his works for Symphony Orchestra.

List of Collaborative Artists and Ensembles

(in alphabetical order)

ARTISTS

ENSEMBLES