Larry Nickel

Larry Nickel
Larry Nickel composing in 2004
Background information
Birth name	Larry Nickel
Born	March 12, 1952 (1952-03-12)
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia
Genres	Choral singing
Occupations	Composer / Songwriter
Instruments	singing / Composing
Website	http://www.canuckcomposer.com/

Larry Nickel (born March 12, 1952) is a Canadian composer, conductor and singer who devotes much of his focus to choral music. He has composed for a wide spectrum of genres; electronic and computer music, string quartet, woodwind and brass quintet, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and choral ensembles, including both secular and ecclesiastical music. Primarily, he has written and arranged hundreds of pieces for choirs. Nickel also works a choral clinician, music minister and music festival adjudicator. Larry sings in the Vancouver Chamber Choir and directs the Jubilate! Chamber Choir. He is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. In 2010 Nickel became the owner and co-editor (with Diane Loomer) of Cypress Choral Music Publishing. Nickel's music is published by Oxford University Press, G. Schirmer, Shawnee Press, Pavane Publishing, Morton Music, Cypress Choral Music, Classica and Canadian International Music. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC Radio - has featured Nickel's music many times. Nickel's doctoral thesis and magnum opus, Requiem for Peace, will be featured in Torino by the EUROPA CANTAT XVIII in 2012.

Biography

Born to parents who became missionaries while he was a child, Nickel studied music while in India under the International Baccalaureate Program. He directed his high school chamber choir when he was 17. Upon returning to Canada, he formed a coffeehouse band with friends called the "Sound of Light", which performed regularly in the Vancouver area for four years, made two LP recordings and worked in recording studios as back-up singers for Dolores Claman ("Hockey Night in Canada" composer). He studied at Columbia Bible College, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Lethbridge. His Master of Music degree was completed at the University of Western Washington in 1983.

Nickel worked as a high school performing arts teacher for 25 years at the Mennonite Educational Institute. During that time he directed over 50 stage productions. 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.

In 1989, Nickel almost died of viral encephalitis. Following a long convalescence, he says, "I committed myself to writing spiritual music, music that speaks to the deep questions of our existence, during that time of healing." Since then Christian convictions permeate much of his writing.

Nickel and director Tony Funk founded the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir in 1990. The choir has recorded many of Nickel's compositions, with proceeds from the sales donated to charities such as Communitas Supportive Care Services, an organization that works with mentally challenged people.

In 2003, Nickel began a Doctorate (DMA) in Composition, which he obtained in 2007. He studied with Stephen Chatman, Dorothy Chang and Keith Hamel. His thesis involved writing a Requiem in thirteen languages. "Requiem for Peace" was premiered at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in December 2005 under the direction Bruce Pullan.

Nickel has received commissions from groups such as the Vancouver Cantata Singers, Pro Coro Canada, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Bach Choir, Elektra, Chor Leoni, Welsh Men's Choir, Winnipeg Children's Choir, Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir, PODIUM honor choir, Erato Ensemble, Canadian Tenors, Linden Singers, Faith and Life Men's Chorus, etc. His work has been performed by Pinchas Zukerman, Ben Heppner, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the NACO Woodwind Quintet, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

Larry and his wife, Edna, live in Yaletown, Vancouver, close to their children and grandchildren.

Discography

• Songs My Father Taught Me -1991 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• Carols for the Infant King - 1992 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir featuring Edith Wiens
• Through an Open Window - 1993 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• A Mennonite Tapestry - 1994 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• Songs of Earth, Echoes of Heaven - 1996 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir featuring Ben Heppner
• Come Heart’s Delight - 1997 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• Canadian Safari - 1997 – Chor Leoni
• Meditation – 1998 - Calvin Dyck (violinist)
• When I Was a Child - 1998 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• Remember Thy Creator - 1998 - Mennonite Educational Institute Choirs
• Rare Benediction - 1999 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• As Evening Shadows Fall - 2000 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• My Heart My Home - 2001 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• The Time of Eternity - 2002 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• Pavane for a True Musical Prince - 2002 - Mennonite Educational Institute Choirs
• Faith and Life Choral Festival 2002 – variety of choirs
• And Night Shall End - 2003 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• By Light Indwelled - 2004 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
• One Small Child – 2004 - Calvin Dyck (violinist)
• Canadian Safari Two - 2005 - Chor Leoni
• Requiem for Peace – 2006 - UBC Chorus and Symphony
• Circle of Compassion - 2007 - Chor Leoni

References

• "Tapestry: Requiem for Peace/Oriah Mountain Dreamer". CBC. June 11, 2006. http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/archives/2005/110605.html. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
• "Tapestry: Simon Schneiderman/Renia Perel". CBC. November 11, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/archives/2007/111107.html. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 

External links

• [1] - Larry Nickel Personal Home Page
• [2] - Georgia Straight article about Nickel's Requiem for Peace
• [3] - Tony Funk, long time Nickel collaborator
• [4] - Communitas - the organization that distributes the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir recordings
• [5] - Canadian Music Centre article