Brandon Nelson

Fast Facts

Full Name: Brandon James Nelson

Date of Birth: May 21, 1982

Location of Birth: Ishpeming, MI, USA

Currently resides: Ishpeming, MI, USA (I’ve lived in Mount Pleasant, MI, Las Vegas, NV, and Hancock, MI too)

Credentials, Commissions, Performances, etc.: see My CV

Primary Media: concert band, orchestra, choir, chamber

General Musical and Aesthetic Inspiration: ancient music, J.S. Bach, medieval art, Morton Feldman, haiku, Olivier Messiaen, dry humor, mythology, history, Vincent Persichetti, medicine, math, John Cage

Other Professional Pursuits: writing books helpful to young composers and music educators, teaching myself to play the four primary recorders of the consort, piano student (I should’ve done this when I was much younger)

Non-Musical Pastimes: artist, writer, dad, husband, voracious reader

Short Bio
Brandon Nelson (b. 1982) is an American composer who invites listeners to explore the esoteric, the ephemeral, and other curios of existence from which he finds fertile creative ground. Embracing a wide palette of styles and methods, he is equally at home writing for students as for professionals. A prolific composer who is much sought-after for commissions, his compositions have been performed widely throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe. He holds music degrees from Northern Michigan University and from Central Michigan University, where he studied composition under David Gillingham and the late Jose-Luis Maurtua. In addition to his numerous contributions to the chamber repertoire, he has composed widely for concert band, choir, and orchestra. He resides in rural Michigan and has three kids, many cats, and more books than seems appropriate.

Long Bio
Brandon Nelson (b. 1982 – Ishpeming, MI, USA) studied music education, horn, and composition at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, receiving a Bachelor of Music Education degree summa cum laude in 2004. While in residence at NMU, Mr. Nelson was the recipient of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra Young Composer’s Prize, was selected to present a composition in the prestigious Student Research and Creative Works Forum, had numerous pieces premiered by university and community ensembles, and was named Outstanding Graduating Senior from the Department of Music.

After graduating from college, Mr. Nelson moved on to graduate composition studies at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI. Under the guidance of master composers David Gillingham and Jose-Luis Maurtua, Mr. Nelson continued to distinguish himself as a top composer, including winning the Studio Prize for Orchestral Composition and beginning his career as a publishing composer with the publication of his Festival Suite for saxophone quartet.

Mr. Nelson worked for a number of years as a music teacher. He is presently focused on composing on commission and lives in rural northern Michigan.

Photos

Contacts
brandonjnelson@gmail.com