Mike Nelson has been primed for a career in classical music ever since his first cassette tape as a 5-year-old was a recording of Gustav Mahler’s first symphony. Choosing to play the French horn in his middle school band after watching the Star Wars trilogy for the first time only sealed the deal.
Before moving to Sacramento to become your morning host in 2021, Mike spent a decade performing and teaching in Montana. From long music tours through tiny rural towns to skeptical student stares in his music appreciation classrooms at Montana State University, Mike quickly discovered his passion for talking about music in an accessible and joyful way for all audiences. Mike's also no stranger to public media, performing on two episodes of Montana PBS's Emmy-awarded show 11th and Grant with Eric Funk.
Mike performs with orchestras and in recitals throughout Northern California and Montana. He especially loves historical performance practice and connecting music to its historical context, appearing with groups like Portland Baroque Orchestra, Baroque Music Montana, and Lyra Baroque Orchestra in Minnesota. He uses instruments ranging from the Baroque period all the way to post-World War II France – including a Classical natural horn that he built – and honestly, he would be more than happy to talk to you about all of it. Mike's past speaking engagements include a presentation about the natural horn and the evolving role of the horn in the wind quintet at the International Horn Symposium.
Mike holds music degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the University of Florida. When not doing music stuff, you can find Mike watching baseball, sampling new breweries, and exploring the great outdoors.
