Biographies for Larry Nickel
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Longer version
Larry Nickel has been a high school performing arts teacher for 25 years, teaching Drama, Acting, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Choirs and handbells. He has directed over 50 stage productions, including several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. He is active as a music festival adjudicator and clinician. In 1993 he won the International Association Jazz Educators award for “outstanding service to jazz education.” His Senior Choir was selected two years in a row, 2001 and 2002, by Varsity Vocals’ international search for the Best of High School Choirs.
The child of missionary parents, Larry discovered his musical gift while studying in India under the International Baccalaureate Program. Larry continued his music studies at Columbia Bible College, the University of British Columbia and the University of Lethbridge. He completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Western Washington in 1983. In 2003 Larry took a leave from teaching to pursue a Doctorate in Composition (completed in 2007). Requiem for Peace, his doctoral thesis, is an extensive work for chorus and symphony orchestra in twelve languages. It will receive a second performance at the Chan Centre on March 14, 2009 with the VSO and the Vancouver Bach Choir.
In 1989, Larry almost died of viral encephalitis. After what some would consider a miraculous recovery, Larry committed himself to writing music more earnestly for God. Since then, his career as a composer has taken a dramatic turn. He has been averaging 25 commissions per year over the last 15 years. Larry is co-founder and composer in residence for the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir, which has recorded 106 of his compositions on thirteen CD's. This choir is often featured on CBC radio and broadcast out of Chicago regularly.
Larry’s compositions have also been recorded by tenors Ben Heppner, Colin Balzer, Steven Ebel and Ray Harris, baritone Phil Ens, sopranos Edith Wiens, Ingrid Suderman, Robyn Driedeger-Klassen, Jennifer Farrell and Melanie Krueger, alto Grace Chan, Dr. Betty Suderman, the Cornucopia Brass Ensemble, Cosmos Brass, the Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir, U.B.C. Singers, Faith and Life Singers, the National Youth Choir of Australia, the Philharmonic Choir of Kiev, Timbre, Concordia College, Columbia Bible College, Conrad Grebel (Waterloo) University, Fresno Pacific University Singers, Rosthern Junior College, the Erato Ensemble, New Music New York, Prairie Voices, the Oasis Chorale, Chor Leoni, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, cellist Dr. John Friesen, violinist Dr. Cal Dyck and the Brandenburg String Quartet, among others. An eclectic musician, Larry, specializes is writing music “tailor-made” for the preferences and abilities of individual groups. His compositions are published by Canadian International Music, Lorenz Publishing, Cypress Publishing, Pavane Publishing, Classica Music, Schirmer Inc. and Shawnee Press.
Shorter version
Larry Nickel is active as a composer, teacher, music minister and choral clinician. The child of missionary parents, Larry discovered his musical gift while studying in India under the International Baccalaureate Program. Larry continued his music studies at Columbia Bible College, the University of British Columbia and the University of Lethbridge. He completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Western Washington in 1983. In 2003 Larry took a leave from teaching to pursue a Doctorate in Composition, which was completed in 2007. Requiem for Peace, his doctoral thesis, is an extensive work for chorus and symphony orchestra in twelve languages. It will receive a second performance at the Chan Centre on March 14, 2009 with the VSO and the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Larry has been averaging 25 commissions per year over the last 15 years. He is co-founder and composer in residence for the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir, which has recorded 106 of his compositions on thirteen CD's. This choir is often featured on CBC radio and broadcast out of Chicago regularly. Published by Cypress, Shawnee, Classica, Pavane, Canadian International and G. Schirmer, Larry's music is performed around the world.