John Wilton Nelson (December 6, 1941 – March 31, 2025) was an American conductor known for his productions of the music of Hector Berlioz. Life and career. Nelson's parents were American Protestant missionaries. [1] He studied at Wheaton College and later at the Juilliard School of Music with Jean Morel.

6 days ago · John Wilton Nelson was born on Dec. 6, 1941, in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, the son of Wilton and Thelma Nelson, who were missionaries with the Protestant Faith Mission. He returned to ...

Apr 9, 2025 · John Nelson, who served as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's fourth music director for 11 years, died March 31. He was 83. Known for his interpretations of Hector Berlioz, Nelson built the ...

Apr 3, 2025 · The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the music world in mourning the loss of American conductor John Nelson, who died March 31, 2025. He was 83. Nelson was born in San José, Costa Rica — the son of American Protestant missionaries — on December 6, 1941, and later studied at Wheaton College and the Juilliard School. He held posts ...

Apr 4, 2025 · The genial American conductor John Nelson, who was particularly acclaimed for his interpretations of Berlioz, has died aged 83. The child of Protestant missionaries, Nelson was born in San José, Costa Rica in 1941, and began learning the piano at the age of six; he was persuaded to pursue a career in music by American choral conductor John Finley Williamson, who noted Nelson’s potential ...

Apr 8, 2025 · In Friday’s (4/4) Gramophone (U.K.), Martin Cullingford writes, “John Nelson, the conductor acclaimed for his interpretations—including on award-winning recordings—of the epic works of Berlioz, as well as other large-scale works by Bach and Beethoven, has died aged 83. Born in 1941 in Costa Rica to Protestant missionaries, he studied at Juilliard with conductor Jean Morel, receiving ...

Apr 4, 2025 · On March 31, 2025, conductor John Wilton Nelson died at the age of 83. Born in Costa Rica, on Dec. 6, 1941, Nelson studied at Wheaton College and later at the Juilliard School of Music with Jean Morel. Following his studies, he went on to become the music director of the Greenwich Philharmonia in Connecticut and the New Jersey Pro Arte Chorale.

Apr 6, 2025 · In December 2017, John Nelson gifted France with the first major recording of Les Troyens (1863) by Hector Berlioz, released by Erato. The American conductor's generous and firmly inspired ...

Apr 3, 2025 · GRAMMY Award-winning conductor John Nelson (1941-2025) is recognised worldwide as having been one of America’s most eminent conductors and one of the leading interpreters of the music of Hector Berlioz.

John Nelson is one of the most versatile and accomplished conductors on the international scene. He is recognized throughout the world for his interpretations of the great romantic works, the Baroque repertoire, his vibrant approach to Mozart and Haydn and his enthusiasm for contemporary music.