Larry Nickel

Larry Nickel
Larry Nickel composing in 2004
Background information
Birth name	Larry Nickel
Born	(1952-03-12) March 12, 1952 (age 65)
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia
Genres	Choral Music
Occupation(s)	Composer, Singer, Conductor, Publisher
Instruments	Singing, Piano
Website	http://www.larrynickel.com/

Larry Nickel (born March 12, 1952) is a Canadian composer, conductor, music publisher and singer who devotes much of his focus to choral music. He is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. and 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 compositions for choirs. Nickel also works as a choral clinician, occasional university professor, music minister, guest conductor and music festival adjudicator. Nickel sang professionally with the Vancouver Chamber Choir for six years, directed the Jubilate Vocal Ensemble for five years, and is currently singing with the Vancouver Cantata Singers. 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 his music many times.

Born to parents who became missionaries when he was eleven years old, Nickel studied music in Kodaikanal India under the International Baccalaureate Program. He was given a chance to direct 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.