Having completed her MMus at the Royal Academy of Music in 2012, Nikki’s PhD at York centres on composing for free-bass accordion. Her main interest lies in composing pieces that encourage jazz style performance for improvising or non-improvising musicians, and she is engaged in making links with international artists, creating new compositions and collaborations within the global accordion community..

Nikki also works as a freelance composer, arranger and performer. She runs her own originals Big Band, the Spike Orchestra, with fellow band-leader, Sam Eastmond. The Spike Orchestra released their latest album ‘Ghetto’ in February 2015.   She is also working as a composer and ‘song-squad’ leader with the Merton Music Foundation, with a performance of her work on the ‘Backstories’ project at the Royal Albert Hall in Spring 2015, for massed choirs and jazz orchestra.

Nikki also works as Manager and performs with The London Vocal Project. Since its inception in January 2008 it has rapidly become recognised as the leading contemporary jazz-vocal ensemble in the country. Currently working with the great Jon Hendricks in New York, the London Vocal Project are looking forward to a World Premiere of the Miles Ahead, Gil Evans album , scored for voices by Pete Churchill, with vocalese lyrics from Jon Hendricks.

Nikki is the holder of a Sir Jack Lyons Scholarship. She was also a winner of the 2015 .Lyons Celebration Award.

Supervisor Dr Jonathan Eato

Links

http://www.nikkifranklin.com

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