Vladimir Nikolov (28) was born 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 with Vera Ogrizovic and Pablo Barón, graduating with an original composition Deeply inspired by private lessons and the mentorship of Ilija Pejovski (composer and arranger, Berklee College of Music alumnus), 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 both Bachelor's and Master's studies in 7 semesters

As a composer/arranger and band leader, Vladimir worked with many different artists, orchestras and ensembles, including the Concert Big Band of the Amsterdam Conservatory, Pophorn Big Band, Jazzmania Big Band, Metropole Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the Amsterdam Saxophone Quartet, Henk van Twillert, Cyrille Carreon, Slobodan Trkulja, John Clayton, Loet van der Lee, Randal Corsen and many others

As guitarist, pianist and composer/arranger, Vladimir took part in a number of workshops and courses, including the Summer Jazz Workshop with Michael Abene, Justin DiCioccio, the “Composing for Film” course led by Jurre Haanstra and Toon Vieijra, Jim McNeely's arrangers workshop, and the Arrangers Workshop 2003 with John Clayton and the Metropole Orchestra in the Netherlands In Macedonia, Vladimir is a permanent member of an instrumental ensemble with composer and pianist Aleksandar Pejovski and cellist Dragan Gonevski (see PROJECTS)

Vladimir's powerful compositions and arrangements have won several international prizes, including two first prizes for original compositions and two hommages to the great jazz composers Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane (see PRIZES)

In addition to composing and arranging, Vladimir also works on music transcription and music engraving work. He has worked with such artists as: Ilija Pejovski (Composers' Association of Macedonia, ProArts Publishing Company), the Macedonian Philharmonic, Jurre Haanstra (Simba Music), Fred van Straten (Musical Director of the Royal Carré Orchestra), Loet van der Lee Quartet, Boudewijn Leeuwenberg, among others He is presently a member of the Macedonian Music Engraving team, established by Laurent Koppitz

Vladimir also worked part-time as a teacher (ear training, harmony and arranging, jazz ensembles) at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Vladimir's music is frequently performed by world renowned orchestras and artists in the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Macedonia and Serbia