Jeff Nelsen

Biography

One of the world’s few Canadian, pig farm-raised magicians born to opera singer parents, Jeff Nelsen has built an equally unconventional career as an internationally acclaimed horn player, educator, speaker, and performance coach. He is the hornist of Canadian Brass, former Professor of Horn at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Past President of the International Horn Society.

As a performer, Jeff has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and guest horn with many of the world’s leading ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and many others. His career has also included Broadway, performing the complete runs of the Tony Award nominated productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Pirate Queen. His musical life spans orchestral, chamber, commercial, jazz, film, and video game recording projects, with performances on six continents. This year’s performances so far have included more than 70 concerts with Canadian Brass alongside appearances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and San Diego Symphony.

As an educator, Jeff has taught thousands of musicians through universities, conservatories, festivals, masterclasses, and professional seminars around the world. He is especially known for helping musicians bridge the gap between what they can do in the practice room and what they actually do on stage.

Through his Fearless Performance approach, Jeff combines practical musical instruction with proven strategies for performing under pressure. Lessons may focus on horn fundamentals, orchestral excerpts, solo repertoire, chamber music, auditions, efficient practice, or performance psychology, but the goal is always the same: helping musicians become more confident, more consistent, and more expressive when the stakes are highest.

Jeff works with students at every level, from middle and high school musicians preparing for honor bands and college auditions to university students, professional performers, teachers, and executives looking to elevate their performance under pressure.

Whether you are looking to win an audition, prepare for an important performance, solve technical challenges, or simply rediscover the joy of playing, Jeff’s mission is to help you close the gap between your ability and your performance, so that when the moment arrives, your best playing has the opportunity to show up.

SPECIALTIES:
• Audition preparation (college, graduate school, professional orchestras)
• Orchestral excerpts
• Solo repertoire and recital preparation
• Chamber music coaching (music, concert programming, career)
• Performance anxiety and confidence
• Efficient practice strategies
• Career guidance for young professionals
• Fearless Performance coaching (for musicians and non-musicians)
• Concert advertising
• Concert stage deportment
• Freelancing
• Double and triple horn
• Mouthpiece design

LANGUAGES:
English