NISHIBUN is a composer and tenor whose work explores the expressive possibilities of choral and vocal chamber music, balancing clarity of line with emotional depth and an instinctive understanding of the voice. Drawing on a long performing career and deep engagement with the repertoire, Nishibun writes with singers in mind — shaping melodic, singable lines and harmonic language that foreground text and expression.

Nishibun’s music has been featured by some of the most distinguished vocal ensembles in the United States. Award-winning CANTUS and the Grammy-nominated SKYLARK have premiered his works, and his compositions have appeared on concert programs ranging from professional touring ensembles to university stages such as the UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME. He gravitates toward texts with emotional weight — poetry and narratives that balance hope and fragility — and crafts musical worlds where small gestures carry significance.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has praised his work, noting that “tenor Alexander Nishibun not only created that haunting Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, but contributes an original composition, a setting of Thomas Hardy’s poem The Oxen, on which first tenor Paul Scholtz soars in spine-tingling fashion.” This reception reflects Nishibun’s commitment to music that resonates deeply with both performers and audiences.

In addition to composing, Nishibun remains active as a performer and artistic leader, roles that continually inform his writing. Close collaboration with singers — understanding how phrases sit in the voice, where resonance gathers, and how breath shapes expression — guides the decisions he makes on the page. He is especially drawn to projects that place storytelling at the center of performance, from reimagined carols to contemporary poetry and new narrative-driven works. Across all of his output, Nishibun aims to create vocal music that feels honest, intentional, and deeply human.