Parker Nelson, horn

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Parker Nelson is redefining the limits of what the horn can do with innovative programs that include his own original arrangements, transcriptions, techniques, commissions, and new context for standard practices and repertoire. As a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and educator, Parker actively works with communities both home and abroad to continually expand the cultural, educational, and artistic reach of the 21st century horn player.

Parker is a dynamic soloist and consistently creates new concert and recital programs to highlight his wealth of original arrangements for horn that include unaccompanied horn, horn and piano, and horn with looping pedal. By no means shy of the traditional, Parker has also been a featured soloist in series programs at universities and with orchestras around the country.

As a chamber musician, Parker continues his love of breaking musical boundaries with Chicago’s Fifth House Ensemble, a concert organization that presents innovative programs including collaborations with pop musicians from other cultures, educational partnerships with incarcerated and at-risk youth, and the world’s first audience-interactive video game concert.

Parker is an active educator, currently serving as High Brass Instructor for the Ravinia Festival's El Sistema program, Horn Instructor at numerous high schools and previously serving as the Educational Programming Coordinator for Fifth House Ensemble. Parker is also a faculty member at the Fresh Inc Festival, maintains a private studio, and is always interested in new opportunities to teach at any level.

Parker also continues to play frequently with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, among many others.

Parker received a Master of Music degree with distinction in Horn Performance from DePaul University, and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University. Parker’s primary instructors have been Eric Ruske, James Smelser, and Dale Clevenger.

Click here to download Parker’s headshot

WORK AND PROJECTS

Positions

  • Horn - Fifth House Ensemble

  • Arranger - Fifth House Ensemble

  • Marketing Manager, Undertale LIVE - Fifth House Ensemble

  • Member - Chicago Horn Consort

Teaching

  • Lead Teaching Artist - Ignite

  • Co-Lead Teaching Artist - Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School

  • Teaching Artist - Oklahoma State University Virtual Residency

  • Teaching Artist - DePauw University Virtual Residency

  • Horn Instructor - Sistema Ravinia

Projects

  • Undertale LIVE

  • Journey LIVE 

  • Rivers Empyrean

  • Luna de Cuernos

  • Degenerate Art 

Media

Press

  • "Rich and Pure Sound" -Boston Musical Intelligencer

  • "Navigating the spotlight especially well"  -Boston Musical Intelligencer

  • "Low and Brassy, Perfect Pitch" - Philly Review

  • “Parker Nelson breathes new life into one of the most iconic classical instruments by exploring electronic looping techniques, new commissions that stretch the realm of the possible, and his own original arrangements which feature his own playing to powerful effect. His performances hit you right in the gut: visceral, committed, and full of the kind of direct expression that is often lacking in classical performance.” - Dan Visconti, Artistic Director - Fifth House Ensemble

Player, StaffBeth Beauchamp