About
Nikka Gershman
Juilliard Kovner Fellow
Wm. S. Haynes Young Artist
“Gershman one-upped even Heifetz by performing [Hora Staccato] effortlessly on flute,
with her own breath and no strings attached.”
—Rodney Punt, LA Opus
Nikka Gershman is a 17-year-old flute soloist and composer. Haynes Flutes, the oldest flute manufacturer in America, has invited her to represent the company as a Young Artist. At age 15, Nikka made history as the youngest ever recipient of a Kovner Fellowship at The Juilliard School, where she joined the studio of Carol Wincenc to pursue her Bachelor of Music degree. She graduated the Colburn Music Academy as a Thibaudet Scholar, in which Jean-Yves Thibaudet personally selects students for this merit-based grant. In August 2023, Nikka was the featured artist on the cover of The Flute View magazine, and the Flute Almanac global journal recognized Nikka as the 2024 “Emerging Artist of the Year”.
Nikka is honored to be a YoungArts National Winner with Distinction, which identifies exceptional new talent to invest in their lifelong careers. The Concorso Internazionale A Tutto Flauto awarded her the Absolute First Prize (Primo Premio Assoluto) in the adult category. In 2022, she was the only 14-year-old in the history of the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition to win the Grand Prize for Exceptional Talent and Musicianship Award over all categories, judged by a panel of esteemed LA Philharmonic members. Nikka was the only flutist selected out of 13 winners internationally by the Classicalia Global PBS Televised Competition. Sir James Galway chose Nikka for his “Outstanding Junior Performer” Award. She was a winner of a prestigious Career Grant from the Salon de Virtuosi. Nikka was a guest performer on NPR’s From the Top, showcasing her performance and composition, New York’s Classical Music Radio Station WQXR-FM, and The Violin Channel.
Nikka is a first-prize winner in numerous competitions including the Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) national winner, British Flute Society International Young Performer Competition (BFS), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artists’ Concerto Competition, Colburn Academy Virtuosi Concerto Competition, Rising Stars Grand Prix Berlin, San Francisco Flute Society International Competition (Adult Division), Chicago Flute Club (Senior Division), Whittier Regional Symphony Concerto Competition, and New York Young Virtuoso Competition.
Nikka’s solo concerts include performances at the Wiener Konzerthaus with the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra; Beethoven House, Bonn, Germany; Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic; Merkin Hall for the Salon de Virtuosi Gala, NYC; Skyview Concert Hall with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; and Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. Nikka has been chosen to perform in masterclasses with distinguished artists, including Sir James Galway, Carol Wincenc, Raffaele Trevisani, Kersten McCall, Denis Bouriakov, Marina Piccinini, Lorna McGhee, Andrea Griminelli, Emily Beynon, Viviana Guzman, Garrett Hudson, and Ransom Wilson.
The International Alliance for Women in Music has selected Nikka’s original composition “The Tears of Winter” for the Libby Larsen Prize in the 41st annual Search for New Music Competition. Her work “Valse Infernale” won the 1st prize in the Pacific Musical Society Competition, judged by the Grammy-award winning composer Mason Bates. Nikka paid tribute to her heritage by dedicating an orchestral piece entitled “Memory” to Ukrainian war victims.
Community outreach is extremely important to Nikka, and she is dedicated to inspiring young audiences and bringing her music to underserved communities. In 2021, Nikka was named an ambassador to the Music to Save Humanity Mentorship and Outreach Program. As a From the Top Fellow, she performed for the Colorado Children’s Hospital facilitated by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Nikka’s showcase of her composition helped raise funds for the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles, benefiting homeless children, and she also brought her music to the Villa Gardens Retirement Home in Pasadena.
Resume
Education
2023-present The Juilliard School, Kovner Fellow, Bachelor of Music Degree (Expected May 2027)
2024 Fordham University Foreign Language Exchange Program
2021-2023 Colburn Music Academy Diploma
2023 CHSPE High School Diploma
2021-2023 Laurel Springs School
2020-2021 Harvard-Westlake School
2017-2020 The Mirman School
Major Teachers
2023-present Carol Wincenc, flute
2021-present Sir James Galway, flute
2022-2023 Raffaele Trevisani, flute
2020-2023 Jim Walker, flute
2022 Zbigniew Preisner, composition
2020-2021 Julia Bogorad-Kogan, flute
2018-2021 Diana Morgan, flute
2017-2019 Inga Kapouler Gartner, piano
Masterclass Performances
2025 Marina Piccinini International Masterclass, full scholarship, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society: Philadelphia, PA
2021-present Galway Flute Festivals: Sir James Galway, Andrea Griminelli, Emily Beynon, Kersten McCall, Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson: Switzerland
2022-2023 Raffaele Trevisani: Milan, Italy
2021 Colburn Music Academy hosting Julliard School Professor Carol Wincenc: LA, CA
2021 Flutes by the Sea: Viviana Guzman, Adriana Ferreira, Mario Caroli: San Francisco, CA
2021 Music to Save Humanity: Lorna McGhee: LA, CA
2018-2021 DM Flute Studio/Diana Morgan: Alberto Almarza, Garrett Hudson, Erica Peel, Elise Henry, Jeffrey Barker, Marianne Gedigian, Seth Morris
2020 Harvard-Westlake School: Denis Bouriakov: LA, CA
2020 Chicago Flute Club, Fluting With The Stars: Ransom Wilson: Chicago, IL
2020 Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass: Paula Robison, Marina Piccinini, Elizabeth Rowe, The Colburn School": LA, CA
2018 Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass, Young Performer, The Colburn School: LA, CA
Solo Performances
2024 Solo Recital, Juilliard Station Concert Series, Lincoln Center: NYC, NY
2024 An Afternoon of Groundbreaking Chamber Music, Juilliard Fall Festival: NYC, NY
2023 Classicalia Winners’ Concert, soloist with Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra, Wiener Konzerthaus, conducted by Laszlo Gyüker: Vienna, Austria
2023 Hommage à Moyse, UCLA Faculty Club concert series: LA, CA
2023 Soloist with Colburn Academy Virtuosi, Zipper Hall: LA, CA
2023 The Virtuoso Flute, Mason Concert Series, Pre-Concert Talk by LA Phil’s Dr. Kristi Brown: LA, CA
2023 Discovering Debussy, collaboration with LA Opera and Colburn Dance Academy, presented by Maestro James Conlon, Zipper Hall: LA, CA
2023 Academies in Concert, joint Colburn/Sibelius Academy Performance, Thayer Hall: LA, CA
2022 Career Grant Winners’ Gala Concert, Salon de Virtuosi, Merkin Hall: NYC, NY
2022 Orchestral Treasures, Brandenburg Concerto Soloist, Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Ponti Jr.: LA, CA
2022 Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Gold Medalists Concert, Skyview Concert Hall, conducted by Salvador Brotons: Vancouver, WA
2021 Winter Holiday Concert, Special Program, Salon de Virtuosi: NYC, NY
2021-22 Music Academy Young Artist Performances (MAYAP), Colburn Music Academy, Thayer Hall: LA, CA
2021 Los Angeles Philharmonic Westside Committee Gala, Scholarship Winners’ Concert, First Presbyterian Church: Pacific Palisades, CA
2021 Vancouver Symphony Competition Finalists Concert, First Presbyterian Church: Vancouver, WA
2021 LA Jewish Symphony Opening Season Concert, premiering Respiro by Nikka Gershman, conducted by Noreen Green: VOS, LA
2021 Grand Prize Virtuoso, Winner’s Recital, Beethoven’s House: Bonn, Germany
2021 Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia Virtual Winners’ Recital
2019 Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic, Concerto Soloist, Zipper Hall, The Colburn School, conducted by David Buck: LA, CA
2019 The Whittier Regional Symphony, Concerto Competition Winner, Vic Lopez Auditorium, conducted by Kimo Furumoto: Whittier, CA
2018 American Protégé, Winners’ Recital, Weill Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall: NYC, NY
Awards
2024 “Emerging Artist of the Year”, Flute Almanac global journal, Sir James & Lady Jeanne Galway honorary chairs
2023 Youngest ever recipient of the Kovner Fellowship, full tuition, room and board scholarship, The Juilliard School: NYC, NY
2022 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant: NYC, NY
2022 Thibaudet Scholar Award, a merit-based scholarship to attend Colburn Music Academy: LA, CA
2022 Sir James Galway “Outstanding Junior Performer” Award: Switzerland
2022 Youngest ever Wm. S. Haynes Young Artist, Worldwide
2021 From the Top Learning & Media Lab Fellowship, NPR Radio Station
2021-22 Westside Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Music Scholarship: LA, CA
2021 Music to Save Humanity, “Most Promising Young Musician” Award, and named Ambassador for Mentorship and Outreach Program: LA, CA
Competitions
2023 National Winner with Distinction, YoungArts, National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists: Miami, FL
2023 1st Prize Winner, San Francisco Flute Society International Competition, Adult Division: San Francisco, CA
2023 1st Prize Winner, Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Composition Competition, up to age 25: San Francisco, CA
2022 Absolute First Prize (Primo Premio Assoluto), adult age category, Concorso Internazionale A Tutto Flauto: Venice, Italy
2022 Winner, Colburn Academy Virtuosi Concerto Competition: LA, CA
2022 Libby Larsen Composition Prize, 41st Search for New Music Competition, International Alliance for Women in Music
2022 1st Prize National Winner, Music Teachers’ National Association/MTNA, Junior Woodwind
2022 Winner, Classicalia PBS Global Televised Competition, Vienna Konzerthaus Performance 2023
2022 1st Prize International Winner, British Flute Society Young Performer Competition (BFS)
2022 Grand Prize for Exceptional Talent and Musicianship, Pasadena Showcase House 35th Annual Instrumental Competition: Pasadena, CA
2021 1st Prize Winner, Vancouver Symphony 27th Annual Young Artists’ Concerto Competition: Vancouver, WA
2021 1st Prize Winner and Young Virtuoso Award, New York Young Virtuoso Competition: NYC, NY
2021 1st Prize Winner, Rising Stars Grand Prix: Berlin, Germany
2021 1st Prize Winner, International Music Competition Bonn “Grand Prize Virtuoso”: Bonn, Germany
2020 1st Prize, Music International Grand Prix, Los Angeles Division, Teen Winds & Brass: LA, CA
2020 San Diego Flute Guild, Finalist, A Foray Into Faure, Young Artist (up to age 30) division: San Diego, CA
2020 1st Prize Winner, Chicago Flute Club, Senior Division, Annual Student Competition: Chicago, IL
2020 1st Prize Winner, San Francisco Flute Society International Competition, Division 1: San Francisco, CA
2019 1st Prize Winner, Whittier Regional Symphony Young Artist Competition: Whittier, CA
Orchestral & Chamber Programs
2024 Juilliard The New Series, Schoenberg and Beyond, Pierrot Lunaire, flute/piccolo, Paul Hall: NYC, NY
2024 Juilliard Wind Orchestra conducted by Alan Kay, Strauss Sonatine No.1, TrV 288, principal flute, Paul Hall: NYC, NY
2024 Juilliard Orchestra conducted by David Robertson, Beethoven Symphony 5, piccolo, Alice Tully Hall: NYC, NY
2024 Juilliard The New Series with Carnegie Hall’s The Fall of the Weimar Republic, The Mad King, flute/piccolo, Willson Theatre: NYC, NY
2024 Juilliard Opera conducted by Nimrod David Pfeffer, Mozart La Clemenza di Tito, principal flute, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre: NYC, NY
2024 Juilliard Orchestra, Composition World Premiere concert conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky, principal flute, Alice Tully Hall: NYC, NY
2023 Juilliard Orchestra conducted by Tito Muñoz, piccolo, Alice Tully Hall: NYC, NY
2023 Juilliard AXIOM ensemble conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky, principal flute, Alice Tully Hall: NYC, NY
2023-present Orion’s Bow Trio, performance at St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University: NYC, NY
2023 Juilliard New Dances 2023, chamber sextet accompanying MUD | LOTUS, coached by Nadia Sirota, choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly
2023 National YoungArts Week, Chamber Music Concert, Michael Tilson Thomas Hall, New World Center: Miami, FL
2022 Colburn Academy Virtuosi Orchestra, Principal Flute: LA, CA
2021-22 Chamber Group, Colburn Music Academy: LA, CA
2021 1st Prize Winner, Bellagrande International Chamber Music Competition: Nikka Gershman & Sammy Maddox
2021 Chamber Group, Harvard-Westlake School: LA, CA
2020-21 Middle School Symphony, Harvard-Westlake School: LA, CA
2019 Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic, Principal Flute: LA, CA
2016-17 The All-Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra, Principal Flute: LA, CA
Compositions
2024 Crickets and Freeways, for soprano, flute, and string quintet, recorded by Kate Kortum, Nikka Gershman, and Juilliard string musicians
2023 When We Used to Dance, for flute and piano, performed by Nikka Gershman and Vivian Fan, Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center
2023 Tempest, for flute and piano
2023 Memory, for flute and orchestra, dedicated to the Ukrainian war victims
2023 Valse Infernale, for orchestra
2023 Three Voices, arr. for flute, viola, and piano, performed by Dovie Lepore-Currin, Sydney Jenkins, and Nikka Gershman, Juilliard Dance Workshop
2022 Three Voices, for flute, violin, and piano, performed by Sophie Leung, Vivian Fan, and Nikka Gershman, Colburn Music Academy
2022 The Tears of Winter, for flute, piccolo, two violins, and cello, performed by Jim Walker in the Colburn Quintet
2022 The Burial, for string orchestra
2021 Respiro, for flute and string orchestra, performed by LA Jewish Symphony and Nikka Gershman
2021 Une Histoire, for flute, violin, and cello, performed by the Harvard-Westlake Chamber Orchestra
2021 Essence, for flute, violin, viola, cello, and contrabass
2020 Echo, for flute and saxophone, performed by Nikka Gershman and Dillon Ring
2020 Solitude, for solo piano, composed for Glenn Gould’s 88th birthday
2020 Apart, for flute, harpsichord, and bassoon, representing the 2020 quarantine
Press & Media
2024 Rising Star: 16-Year-Old Juilliard Student Hopes to ‘Bring the Flute to the Future’, Our Town New York
2023 Nikka Gershman Artist Interview & featured cover flutist, The Flute View magazine, August 2023 Issue
2023 Nikka Gershman's Magical Flute Debut at Mason House, LA Opus
2023 Young Artists Showcase, WQXR-FM, New York’s Classical Music Radio Station
2022 From the Top, February show number 410, National Public Radio (NPR)
2022 From the Top, Behind The Mic Musician Spotlight Interview, The Producers Circle Newsletter, National Public Radio (NPR)
2022 Pasadena Showcase House For The Arts Awards $18,500 To Nine Aspiring Young Musicians, Pasadena Now, April 8th
2022 From the Top, March 21st-22nd Instagram takeover, National Public Radio (NPR)
2022 Voice of America, March 21st episode
2022 America's Oldest Flute Manufacturer Honors Nikka Gershman-Pepper as Youngest Ever "Haynes Young Artist", Yahoo News, Business Insider,
& Kilgore News Herald
2022 Young award winners to perform with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Columbian Newspaper, January 20th
2021 Winners Announced at Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's 2021 Young Artist Competition, The Violin Channel Magazine, October Issue
2020 Introducing the Winners of the San Francisco Flute Society Competition 2020, The Flute View Magazine, July Issue
2020 Lockdown Stories Competition, Pan Magazine, British Flute Society, November Issue
2020 Nikka Gershman-Pepper ’26 Receives Prestigious Music Award, Spectrum Magazine, Harvard-Westlake School, December Issue, by Dillon Ring
2019 Whittier Rotary donates to symphony’s Young Artists program, Greenleaf Guardian, November Issue
Community Outreach
2023 Solo recital at Mount Sinai Hospital, Guggenheim Pavilion, presented by the Salon de Virtuosi: New York, NY
2023 Concert at Villa Gardens Retirement Community, Pasadena, presented by the Colburn Music Academy
2022 Performance for Hobart Elementary School, Musical Encounters, Colburn Music Academy
2022 Original composition featured at a fundraiser for homeless children at the Union Rescue Mission
2021 Performance for the Colorado Children’s Hospital, Ryan Seacrest Foundation, From the Top Fellowship Program
2021 Ambassador, Music to Save Humanity Mentorship and Outreach Program
Memberships
2023 The Marcel Moyse Society
2022-23 The International Alliance for Women in Music
2021 Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA
2020-2021 Founder, Classical Music Club, Harvard-Westlake School: LA, CA
2021-present National Flute Association: USA
2020-2021 San Diego Flute Guild: San Diego, CA
2020-2023 Chicago Flute Club: Chicago, IL
2020-2021 British Flute Society: Great Britain
2020-present San Francisco Flute Society: San Francisco, CA
Non-musical Awards & Activities
2022 Poetry Competition, 1st Prize, Laurel Springs School: Ojai, CA
2021 Stampede Ventures, Internship, Film Directing: Hollywood, CA
2021 Tenth Muse, original photography cover, Harvard-Westlake School Literary Art Magazine
2020 City of STEM, Sustainable Solutions, 1st Prize: LA, CA
2020 National Geographic Bee,1st Prize, The Mirman School
2018 National Hardbound Anthology A Celebration of Poets publication, Creative Communication Contest
2017-present Davidson Institute Member
2016-present American Mensa Member
Languages & Software Skills
French (fluent)
Russian (fluent)
Italian (proficient)
Polish (proficient)
Sibelius software
Garageband software
MuseScore software
Adobe Premier Rush software