Detroit Concert Choir

Gordon Nelson is the Artistic Director and Founder of the international award winning Detroit Concert Choir. Highly respected by others in the musical field, Gordon Nelson is more than a musical academician. He has built a truly great choral ensemble by challenging its members to reach beyond their own expectations to achieve extraordinary goals. Founded in 1987, Mr. Nelson created the group to enhance the lives of others through music and to provide a venue for musicians, professional and amateur, to share their talents with the community. The Detroit Concert Choir is now in its 21st performance season.

Mr. Nelson’s passion for excellence and his extensive musical knowledge have led the Detroit Concert Choir to eighteen national and international honors, including the "Choir of the World" title at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales and the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence. Mr. Nelson has led the DCC in eight international competitions: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales (1991, 1993, 1996, 2006); Norwich-Sligo International Choral Festival, Ireland (1994); Tolosa Choral Contest, Spain (1998); Spittal an der Drau International Choral Contest, Austria (2001); Seghizzi International Choral Competition, Italy (2004).

Under Mr. Nelson’s leadership, the Detroit Concert Choir was selected to perform in several ACDA conventions (1999 National, 2000 Regional, 2006 State Convention here in Grand Rapids). In 1998 the DCC was invited by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to perform with them for the regional convention at Orchestra Hall.

Mr. Nelson's musical background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheaton College, a Master of Education degree from Wayne State University, and a Master of Music degree from University of Michigan. Additionally, he studied instrumental conducting at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

From 1961 to 1979, Mr. Nelson served as Choral Director of Denby High School in Detroit. At this time, Mr. Nelson realized the potential of reaching heights of excellence with team effort. Through major works with orchestras and a complete palate of choral music ranging from the masterworks to contemporary, folk and pop selections, Mr. Nelson established a standard of excellence rarely envisioned at the high school level. His choirs traveled to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod twice and won top honors both times.

Believing that education is a lifelong process, he continues to enrich his choral experience and broaden his musical horizons by attending conductor's workshops and seminars, and has studied with such choral experts as Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, and Bev Hensen. Mr. Nelson is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America and the International Federation of Choral Musicians. He is the president of the Rita Guy Christian Music Foundation, whose goals include providing artistic opportunity for the professional musician and educational opportunity for young people and adults.