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 with Vera Ogrizović and Pablo Barón, graduating with an original composition. Deeply inspired by private lessons and the mentorship of 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 both Bachelor's and Master's studies in 7 semesters

As a composer and arranger, Vladimir worked with ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Pophorn Big Band, Berlin Art Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna, Barga Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the Amsterdam Saxophone Quartet. Among the collaborative artists, he worked with: John Clayton, Randy Brecker, Conrad Herwig, Ronnie Cuber, Vince Mendoza, Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, Andy Narell, Sertab Erener,  to name but a few

He's often part of film projects as orchestrator and music editor, among which: The Artist (FR), Punk's Not Dead (MK) and Pipo en de p-p-Parelridder (NL). As a guitarist, pianist and conductor, he performed with various ensembles including CvA Big Band, Trojka, Official Language, Berlin Art Orchestra and Schultzing

Vladimir's compositions and arrangements have won numerous international prizes, including two first prizes for original compositions and five first prizes for homages to the great jazz composers Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, David Liebman and Steve Swallow

Vladimir worked as a teacher (ear training, harmony and arranging, jazz ensembles) at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He also taught arranging, jazz ensembles and ear training at the Jazz Dept. of FMU at University “Goce Delčev” in Štip (Macedonia) and ESRA, Skopje. Furthermore, he frequently leads workshops for young jazz musicians in Europe