Choir

Nick AnikouchineDirector of Choral Music: Mr. Nicolai Anikouchine
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 310-378-8471 x279 & x619

Nicolai Anikouchine was born in Seattle, Washington. He began singing as a boy soprano at the age of six. He studied piano as a child, and later added trumpet. He sang in his elementary and junior high school choirs. He joined the world famous Santa Barbara High School A Cappella Choir, and was later admitted to their renowned Madrigal Singers. The conductor, Phyllis Zimmerman, has had a profound impact on his choral sound, repertoire, and style. After high school, he met Paul Christiansen and began studying with him. He has received diplomas from UC Berkeley, USC Law School, and Paul Christiansen Choral School. He has sung under Paul Christiansen (Concordia), Renee Clausen (Concordia), Barbara Harlow (SBCC), Roger Wagner (UCLA), Curtis Dickson (SBCC), Carol Foster (UCB), Carol Young, Vincent Cole (SBCC), Julie Nuefeld (SBCC), Nathan Kreitzer, Judith Cluman (Juilliard), and Paul Osborne (Biola).

Mr. Anikouchine has conducted numerous church choirs of the following denominations: Lutheran, Episcopal, Catholic, and Unitarian. He has sung as a designated paid soloist in professional and church choirs. He has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area as a studio musician. Choirs under Mr. Anikouchine’s direction have toured Russia, Hungary, Germany, Finland, Austria, The Czech Republic, The Slovak Republic, New York, Washington D.C. and Hawaii. Indeed, composers have written music specifically for Mr. Anikouchine to direct with both his professional and high school choirs. Mr. Anikouchine has taught Music Theory, Music History, Repertoire, Choral Conducting, Choral Methods, Music Appreciation, History, Government, Economics, Sociology, Math, English, Cinema, Drama, Dance and Weight Training. He has also been a Wrestling Coach, a Mock Trial Coach and an Academic Decathlon Coach.

A Cappella Choir
The A Cappella Chamber Choir is the main choir at Palos Verdes High School. Membership in this choir is required in order to join any of the more select choirs on the Palos Verdes High School Campus. Membership is determined by a simple audition and the choir is open to all students enrolled at Palos Verdes High School. This large choir produces a beautiful and powerful sound. The choir performs a repertoire that spans every period in music history and performs music usually reserved for College level ensembles. Currently, the choir rehearses in the afternoon once a week and in the evening once a week. This choir is a registered class and students receive 5 units credit. This choir is recommended for all entering freshmen at Palos Verdes High School. This choir performs in the Candlelight Christmas and Spring Concerts.

Madrigal Singers 
The Madrigal Singers is the select mixed voices choir at Palos Verdes High School. Membership in the Madrigal Singers requires concurrent enrollment in the A Cappella Chamber Choir. Membership is open to all students enrolled in the A Cappella Chamber Choir. The Madrigal Singers perform an advanced repertoire that spans every period in music but focuses on Renaissance music and music from the 20th Century. This choir produces an intimate and delicate sound as to be expected from a smaller ensemble. Currently this choir rehearses once a week in the afternoon and once a week in the evening. This choir is a registered class and students receive 5 units of credit. This class is recommended to the advanced freshmen. The Madrigal Singers perform in the Winter and Spring concerts.

Men’s Ensemble 
The Men’s Ensemble is Palos Verdes High School’s immensely popular Men’s choir. Membership in the Men’s Ensemble requires concurrent membership in the A Cappella Chamber Choir. Membership is open to all men enrolled at Palos Verdes High School. Freshmen men are encouraged to join this choir with esprit de corps to spare! The men perform a classical collegiate repertoire for male voice.Their sound is strong, robust and thrilling. While their repertoire can be as spiritually moving as any other choir much of their music is energetic and joyful. Currently, the men rehearse one evening a week. This is a volunteer choir and at this time students do not receive academic credit. The Men’s Ensemble performs at the Winter and Spring Concerts as well. Male harmony is electrifyingly fun to perform and hear. Join!!

Women’s Ensemble 
The Women’s Ensemble is the newest choir at Palos Verdes High School. The women are set to debut in this year’s Spring Concert. Membership in the Women’s Ensemble is open to all students enrolled at Palos Verdes High School and requires concurrent membership in the A Cappella Chamber Choir. The women will perform an eclectic selection of music appropriate for the collegiate women’s chorus. This is a volunteer choir and at this time students do not receive academic credit. The women rehearse once a week. The women’s choir will feature rich full sonorous alto tone and high soaring pure soprano tone. The addition of a weekly voice class led by a renown Los Angeles voice teacher will surely augment the beauty of this Palos Verdes High School Choir. Entering fresh women are invited to join this new choir. The women will sing at the Winter and Spring Concerts.