.jpg)
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. He currently resides at Green College, on the UBC campus, with his wife, Edna. Larry's dissertation involves writing a Requiem in thirteen languages. "Requiem for Peace" is scheduled to be presented at the Chan Center on December 03, 2005. Under the direction of Bruce Pullan, it involves a 200 voice choir; combining the UBC Singers, the UBC Choral Union and the Trinity Western University Choir, also the UBC Symphony Orchestra and soloists Robyn Driedger-Klassen, Grace Chan and Tony Funk.
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. Larry is co-founder and composer in residence for the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir, which has recorded over 100 of his compositions on twelve CD's. This choir is frequently featured on CBC radio and broadcast out of Chicago regularly. His compositions have also been recorded by tenors Ben Heppner, Colin Balzer and Ray Harris, baritone Phil Ens, sopranos Edith Wiens, Ingrid Suderman, Jennifer Farrell and Melanie Krueger, alto Grace Chan, the Cornucopia Brass Ensemble, Cosmos Brass, the Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir, U.B.C. Singers, Faith and Life Singers, Timbre, Concordia College, Columbia Bible College, Fresno Pacific University Singers, Rosthern Junior College, Prairie Voices, 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.
Listen
