About

Education:
•Master’s in Viola Performance, Orchestral Repertoire, and Chamber Music (Northwestern University)
•Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance (California State University, Long Beach)

Classical & performing ensemble credits:
• KROMA Quartet
• Southeast Symphony
• Camarata of Los Angeles
• Afro American Chamber Orchestra
• Marina del Rey Symphony, Culver City Symphony
• Santa Monica Symphony, Downey Symphony
• MESTO (Multi Ethnic Star Orchestra) which is known for its performance of orchestral transcriptions of traditional Middle Eastern music. MESTO performed at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman in the Middle East.

Commercial music/recording credits:
• Performed at The Grammy’s with Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, & Tamala Mann (2017)
• Performed at The Grammy’s with Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, & Raphael Saadiq (2016)
• Film/TV Scores: Hidden Figures (2016), Legion (2016)
• Recorded with La’Porsha Renae, “Good Woman”, Universal Music Group (2016)
• Vocalist and string player with the stage show “Mortified.” Show was picked up and adapted for TV on the Sundance Channel.
• Performed at Coachella with Florence and the Machine (2015)
• Performs annually with Trans Siberian Orchestra (2015, 2016, 2017)
• Performed with Charlie Wilson (on BET Celebration of Gospel) - 2015
•Performed with Anthony Brown (on BET Celebration of Gospel) - 2016
• Performed at numerous private events with recording artists such as One Republic, Colbie Caillat, John Legend, Jason Mraz, Diana Ross & Matisyahu
• Recorded for the documentary film score for “Kobe Bryant’s Muse”
• Recorded at the Vocal Corner Store with emerging artists
• Performed with Rihanna at The American Music Awards (2014)
• Recorded with Tyrone Wells (2004)

Teaching:
Ms. Shorts is an advocate, participant, and believer in making music available to all people, but especially within underserved communities. She worked with the LA Philharmonic’s community outreach program: Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). At YOLA’s second site located at the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) in LA’s Rampart district, Nikki was the Lead Strings Teacher and Conductor of the HOLA Children's Orchestra. She also worked as a teaching artist and curriculum writer and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s School Partners Programs. Ms. Shorts also wrote a chapter in the educational guide: El Sistema, Music for Social Change: An Inspirational Collection of Essays

Past teaching credits include:
• Mentor teacher for the Bard/Longy Master of Arts in Teaching program (Los Angeles campus).
• Applied viola faculty and Chamber Orchestra conductor at Santa Ana College
• Low Strings Coach with the Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO)
• Conductor’s assistant and strings coach at Long Beach Poly High School
• Strings teacher at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club after school music program
• Strings Coach/Viola teacher at Northwood High School, Roger’s Middle School, SCSBOA Honor Orchestra, The Vienna Music Institute (Irvine), and The Music Factor.

Music

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Videos

Audio