Born in Israel in 1977, Yaniv Nachum studied at the Israeli Jazz Academy, Rimon, before going abroad to study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and The Manhattan School of Music. Since then Yaniv has been playing with some of the best orchestras in the Netherlands and toured all over the world with various ensembles and his own jazz quartet.

Since 2003, Yaniv has been teaching jazz improvisation at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and started conducting and arranging for big bands and ensembles.

Yaniv is currently the research coordinator at the Jazz department of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Additionally, he teaches theory, composition and improvisation and gives ensemble lessons.