Featured Artist: Jeffrey Nelsen
Internationally acclaimed Canadian hornist Jeff Nelsen's eclectic career comprises a true cross-section of the music industry. He is equally successful in both classical and contemporary genres and in the roles of both musician and mentor. As a performer, Jeff is best known as the hornist of the world famous Canadian Brass, with whom he performs concerts all over the world. As a pedagogue, Jeff teaches horn, chamber music, and trains people in what he calls "Fearlessness" at the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Jeff grew up on a pig farm in Western Canada with opera singing pig farming parents. He is married to mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen. Jeff can't seem to escape singers! These strong vocal influences on is music making give Jeff his signature sound and singing approach to his teaching and horn playing. Jeff has held positions in the Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg symphony orchestras. Among his other appearances as orchestral performer are those in the horn sections of the New York Philharmonic, the Boston, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and National (Kennedy Center, D.C.) Symphonies, the National Arts Center Orchestra, and the Canadian Opera Company. As a member of Canadian Brass, in addition to the hundreds of quintet recitals performed all over the world, Jeff has been featured with symphony orchestras including Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Minnesota, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and St. Louis. Nelsen has performed the complete run of two shows on Broadway and toured with popular entertainers including Michael Bolton and Barry Manilow. Jeff has an extensive discography ranging from film, TV, Broadway shows, video game soundtracks, pop and jazz music, solos, chamber, symphonic, and operatic repertoire. These recordings are on labels such as Sony Classical, Warner, Blue Note, London/Decca, Disney, Summit Records, C.B.C., and Opening Day Records. Intensely active as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician, Mr. Nelsen has appeared at numerous international music festivals including Ravinia, Tanglewood, Blossom, Music Academy of the West, Banff, Las Vegas, and St. Barthlélemy. Jeff hosts a seminar titled, "Fearless Audition Training for Hornists" every summer at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has recurring articles focusing on "Fearlessness" in the magazines of the International Horn Society, the British Horn Society, and his debut publication, "Fearless Performance" is due for release soon. Mr. Nelsen is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician. Aside from creating musical magic Jeff is an enthusiastic magician, and often adds touches of illusionary arts to performances. Website of Jeffrey Nelsen
