curriculum vitae
The American pianist Peter Nelson began his musical studies in his hometown, Boston USA.
Completed his bachelor degree at the Oberlin College, Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, before coming to Graz as musical assistant of the Lied Class at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS). Continued his piano studies with Prof. Leonard Hokanson at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main and completed his exam there. He also took masterclasses with Geoffrey Parsons and Irwin Gage.
His musical life began in Europe and performed as a soloist with orchestra and in concert. Encouraged by the late soprano, Arleen Augér, he followed his great interest in chamber music especially the Lied literature. In the meantime he has given concerts with many international artists in four continents and numerous recordings and television appearances.
Peter Nelson has been the musical assistant for many master classes of international singers, e.g. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Christa Ludwig, Sena Jurinac, Hilde Zadek, Edith Matthis, Fransisco Araiza, Piero Cappucilli and more recently with Brigitte Fassbaender.. He has also been an official accompanist at all the important competitions in Europe, e.g. Reine Elisabeth, Brussels; ARD, München; Neue Stimmen(Bertelsmann Foundation), Gütersloh; etc.
He has performed and recorded with such singers as Kurt Moll, Gabriele Schnaut, Maria Venuti and Eteri Gvazava.
Since completing his studies he has always been teaching at various institutes, Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Akademie für Tonkunst Darmstadt, Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Frankfurt and is presently Professor for Piano/ Lied Interpretation at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen, Germany. Many of his former piano Students have been prize winners in national and international competitions and are also lecturers in music institutes of higher education.
©Jan-Voth
In Frankfurt he was the vocal coach of the young Renée Fleming and many of his vocal students are performing in the great opera houses of the world. He also took over the musical instruction of “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” from Mozart at the Chicago Opera Theater (COT)
In 2003 he became professor for Lied Interpretation and piano at the University of Music in Trossingen, Germany. He has given master classes throughout the world from Finland to Brazil and from the Americas to China.He has also served as a Jury member at international Lied competitions, recently in Peking, China. Also co-founder of the Lied Academy in Trossingen, which will take place for the 8th time in September 2017. He is currently preparing the Summer Arts Program of California State University (CSU) for the Summer of 2018 in Trossingen which will focus on Lied Interpretation for Singers and Pianists.
Prof. Peter Nelson was vice rector of the Musikhochschule in Trossingen from 2006 to 2012 and is currently the director of the international office and coordinator of the Erasmus program and the Baden-Württemberg Program with CSU.
Prof. Peter Nelson
Klavier-Liedgestaltung