Jeff 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’s "Fearless Audition Training" has won him both principal (Vancouver Symphony) and fourth horn (Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg symphonies) auditions and official runner-up showings for the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  

As an orchestral performer Jeff has performed with the horn sections of the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, and Montreal Symphony Orchestra. As a member of Canadian Brass, Jeff has been featured with orchestras including Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Minnesota, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and St. Louis.

He has recorded extensively on labels such as Sony, Warner, Blue Note, London/Decca, Disney, Summit Records and C.B.C. Records. Nelsen has performed on Broadway, and with popular entertainers including Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond,  and Barry Manilow.  Jeff premiered his show for solo horn and orchestra, "Dancing and Romancing - An Evening with Jeff Nelsen" to great acclaim in 2006.

Intensely active as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician, Mr. Nelsen has appeared as musician and mentor at numerous international music festival engagements, including Ravinia, Tanglewood, Blossom, Music Academy of the West, Las Vegas, Sewanee, and St. Barthlélemy.  

Widely praised for his unique teaching style, Jeff was appointed associate professor of horn at the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2006.  Prior to accepting this post, he was on faculty at the universities of Toronto, British Columbia, and Victoria, as well as McGill University in Montreal.

Mr. Nelsen is a Yamaha Performing Artist.  His debut publication, “Fearless Auditioning” is due for release in 2008.