[2][3] He continued his interest in singing as a hobby by participating in amateur performances, but eventually enrolled concurrently at the Leningrad Conservatory in 1960 at the suggestion of the LISI choir director.

[2][3] In 1961, Nesterenko graduated from LISI with a degree in naval civil engineering, and began work as a construction foreman by day while continuing his education at the conservatory by night.

[2][3][4] While Nesterenko was still studying at the conservatory, he was invited to perform at the Maly Opera Theatre, where he made his debut as Prince Gremin in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

[2][4] In 1970, at the fourth International Tchaikovsky Competition, held in Moscow, Nesterenko tied for first place in the male vocalist category.

[2] In 1993, Nesterenko began teaching at the Vienna Conservatory, and split his time between Austria and Russia while continuing to work with the Bolshoi Theatre as a vocal consultant.

[2][3] He appeared at the Vienna State Opera in roles such as Boris Godunov, Sarastro in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Basilio in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust, Ramfis in Verdi's Aida, Banquo in Macbeth and Filippo II in Don Carlo, and the Water Goblin in Dvořák's Rusalka.

[11] In 1985, he was the soloist in Songs and Dances of Death for bass and large orchestra in Moscow, conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky.

[13][3] His family elected to forgo holding a large funeral for him due to the ongoing pandemic, and his ashes were buried in Russia according to his wishes.