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 has held positions in the Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg symphony orchestras. Among his other appearances as orchestral performer are those with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony (Kennedy Center, D.C.), National Arts Center Orchestra, Edmonton, Calgary, and Quebec symphonies, 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 countless symphony orchestras including Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Seattle, and St. Louis.
Jeff’s pops show “Dancing and Romancing: An Evening with Jeff Nelsen” for solo horn and orchestra recently premiered with rave reviews and is in demand on orchestral pops series across North America. Nelsen has performed 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. Jeff continues to attract rave reviews as a featured soloist on the Canadian Brass release “Magic Horn.” This CD was nominated for the 2006 Juno Award (Canadian equivalent to the Grammy Award) for “Best Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble.”
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.
Born and raised on a pig farm in rural Western Canada, Jeff grew up surrounded by music. His parents, Ron and Diane, are both accomplished opera singers. His eldest sister Lisa resides in England where she is a freelance flutist while his sister Suzanne, a bassoonist, is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Jeff’s wife Nina Yoshida Nelsen is a talented mezzo-soprano with whom he performs their orchestra show and recitals worldwide. Aside from creating musical magic, Jeff is an enthusiastic magician, and often adds touches of illusionary arts to performances.
Jeff was on faculty at University of Toronto (2002-2005), University of British Columbia (1998-2000), University of Victoria (1999-2000), and McGill University in Montreal (1994-96). He hosts a seminar titled, “Fearless Audition Training for Hornists” every summer at IU. He has recurring articles focusing on “Fearlessness” in the magazines of the International Horn Society, the British Horn Society, and his debut publication, “Fearless Auditioning – Making Simple Easier” is due for release in 2008. Mr. Nelsen is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician.
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“His playing really moved and inspired
me. Great performing and presence
- a new hero for the horn world!”
Frydis Ree Wekre Internationally renowned horn soloist/educator, former Principal horn Oslo Philharmonic
“Jeff Nelsen is a serious magician on
the Horn. One cannot help for being captured by the living experience in
his sound !! I’ve worked with and have heard many great horn players
but this musician is -
ONE OF A KIND !!”
Jon Sass, International Tuba soloist
