Born and raised in Ishpeming, MI, Brandon Nelson followed a path into music from an early age. Starting out as a fifth grader writing music for his middle school bandmates, he began a career in composition and arranging that has so far led to numerous performances, commissions, and awards. After graduating at the top of his class of music students from Northern Michigan University, he went on to pursue a Master of Music degree in composition from Central Michigan University, where he studied under renowned composers David Gillingham and Jose-Luis Maurtua, and where he won the coveted Studio Prize for Orchestral Composition in 2005.

As passionate about education as he is about composition, Mr. Nelson decided to pursue a career in teaching, and, in 2006, moved to Las Vegas, NV. Posted at an inner-city elementary school, he taught nearly 1,000 K-5 students and started two highly-successful honors ensembles. Desiring a change of pace (and climate), he moved back to the Upper Peninsula and is currently teaching for the Baraga Area School District. Considerably smaller than the urban elementary school, Mr. Nelson feels right at home teaching everything from kindergarten music to high school band.

Mr. Nelson currently resides in Ishpeming with his wife and three children.