Nikki Glenn

My music is primarily for events where you need to set a certain elegant atmosphere, without being too distracting. You can expect to hear background music specifically curated to create an environment for conversation and enjoyment. I use fully orchestrated professional backing tracks to accompany my vocals and violin performance. My repertoire consists of well-known jazz standards and easy listening vocals from artists like Diana Krall, Dido, Norah Jones, and others. Volume is carefully monitored so that guests can enjoy the music while holding their conversations – I provide concert-quality entertainment, at a background music level.

If you’ve ever been to a cocktail or dinner event where you were counting down the minutes until you could say “Good night”, I feel your pain. Sometimes, in spite of the best food, drink, and conversation, an event can be missing…something. There’s an energy that the best get-togethers have – if you’ve ever been a part of an evening that you didn’t want to ever end, you understand exactly what I’m talking about.

My clients want their events to be wonderful and unforgettable; while I may not be able to help you with your canapes (although I am an AWESOME cook, and so modest about it!), my primary objective is to help you create a warm, welcoming environment that will delight your guests. I believe that my experiences allow me to provide your event with a unique flavor that may be a perfect fit. My antecedents are a little unconventional:

• I’m classically trained, but not a prodigy. Whereas many of my colleagues started playing the violin practically before they could eat solid food, I didn’t really begin taking formal lessons until I was a teenager. I was fortunate to receive scholarships for my high school education and studied violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy.
• I discovered I preferred rock and roll to the orchestra. I thought I would pursue a career as an orchestral violinist or soloist, so I worked towards a music performance degree at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, where the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra provided me with a scholarship and internship with the Operations Department of the Orchestra. However, after a summer in Italy performing with the Operafestival di Roma, I wanted to learn about performing outside of the world of classical music. I left the ivory tower and went to the school of hard knocks: I joined a rock/blues band and learned how to jam and eventually ended up working for a wedding entertainment company as a lead female vocalist.
• Some of the cool things I’ve done: violin and vocal performances on with Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, performances with the Moody Blues, the multimedia extravaganza “Elvis Live”, The Black Eyed Peas (televised on ABC), Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Bernadette Peters, and Johnny Mathis.
• What exactly do I do? When I play for private, corporate, and special events, I perform as both violinist and vocalist, with a repertoire which includes light jazz instrumentals, and adult contemporary vocals (think artists like Norah Jones, Sade, or Diana Krall). I also specialize in providing elegant music for events within the yachting and private jet industries, with regular engagements at both the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and Yachts Miami Beach, and I’ve earned the nickname “The Yacht Violinist”.

My experiences give me a unique attitude towards performance; the violin is an exalted instrument of the concert hall, but I love taking it down the less conventional road. I’m passionate about providing unforgettable experiences for my audience.

I provide my own sound and lights for audiences up to 175; larger audiences will require sound company with lights and staging (stage plot available upon request)
At least two grounded 3-prong outlets must be available
No less than 5 x 7 feet of space is required for performance if there is no stage area.