Biography

Nick Strimple is a scholar, conductor, and composer whose interests include twentieth century music, Jewish music, the music of Dvořák and other Czech composers, the aesthetics of sacred music, and virtually all aspects of choral music. His critically acclaimed book, Choral Music in the Twentieth Century, was released in 2002.

Recognized internationally for his work with Holocaust music, Dr. Strimple has lectured on the subject at Yale University, Oxford University, Wellesley College, University of Miami, and other distinguished institutions. He has presented and performed Holocaust music programs throughout the United States and Europe. During 2001-02, Dr. Strimple served on the California State Legislature Working Group for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education (which resulted in legislation mandating the teaching of genocide awareness in California schools). He currently serves as Vice President of the David Nowakowsky Foundation, Artistic Director of the annual Los Angeles Interfaith Symposium and Concert, and sits on the Advisory Boards of the Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles and the Aminadav Aloni Music Foundation.

His choral ensembles have appeared at divisional and national ACDA conventions and at numerous European music festivals including the Prague Summer Festival, the Athens Festival, the Pazaislis International Music Festival (Kaunas, Lithuania), the Vilnius International Music Festival, the Prague Musica Iudaica Festival, and others. As a guest conductor, Dr. Strimple has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London), the Nuremberg Symphony, the Ensemble Vocal d'Aquitaine, the Slovak Radio Orchestra, the Janáček Philharmonic, the Prague Radio Choir, the New York Oratorio Society, the Hans Sachs Choir, and the Oregon Bach Festival, among others. His recordings of twentieth century choral music are released on the Naxos, Music & Arts, and 4-Tay labels. He has also prepared choruses for some of the world's greatest conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Gerard Schwartz.

As a respected composer, Strimple has written concert and liturgical works, as well as film and television scores, and has served as arranger, or choral arranger, for Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Air Supply, and other leading artists. He has received commissions from among others, the Vienna International Organ Festival, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Diva Complex, Jorge Mester and grants from the Lifebridge Foundation, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Los Angeles Jewish Community Foundation, Cotsen Family Foundation, Roth Family Foundation, and others.

Dr. Strimple was educated at Baylor University (BM in composition) and the University of Southern California (MM in sacred music –Outstanding Masters Candidate, 1973; DMA in choral music – Outstanding Doctoral Candidate, 1976). His principle teachers include Charles C. Hirt, Robert H. Young and James H. Vail (choral conducting and sacred music); Halsey Stevens and Richard Willis (composition); Daniel Sternberg and Daniel Lewis (conducting), Martha Barkema and John Large (voice); and Malcolm Hamilton and Roger Keyes (piano).

Dr. Strimple also serves as Director of Music at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, and Music Director of the Choral Society of Southern California, the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, and the Los Angeles Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble ("la vie").