About Joy

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From childhood, I enjoyed writing music, performing in musicals, leading worship at conferences and singing for public concerts.  After receiving my Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance from Grove City College in Pennsylvania, I directed a Children's Choir program at First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs where I taught weekly choir rehearsals, coordinated a volunteer team, designed concerts and produced children's musicals.  While I always enjoyed performing, working with children's choirs lead me to discover a love of teaching and confirmed my conviction of the importance of musical enrichment in the lives of young people. The Joy Nelson Music Studio was born as a result. It is my joy and privilege to nurture the musical expression of my students.
  • Private music teacher 2011-Present
  • Journey School Choir teacher 2012-2017
  • Children's Choir Director, First Presbyterian Church, 2005-2012
  • Get Set Preschool Music Teacher, First Presbyterian Church, 2005-2012
  • Graduate Work in Education at Colorado State University, Kodaly emphasis
  • Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, Grove City College
  • Daniel Ferro Vocal Program, Greve in Chianti, Italy
  • Children's Theatre Directing:  Annie Jr., various Christmas musicals, American Ideal, Acorns to Oaks, The King of the Jungle, GPS, Under God's Sea in 3D, The Amazing Grace Race, Jonah's Druthers
  • Musical Theatre:  West Side Story, Carousel, Anything Goes, The Medium, Jane Eyre
  • Solo Work:  Mendelsshon's Elijah, Handel's Messiah, Schubert's Mass in A Flat, John Rutter's Pie Jesu, First Presbyterian Church's Christmas Joy concert
  • Ensembles:  First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir, First Presbyterian Church Praise Band, Village Seven Presbyterian Church Worship Band, Grace Church SC Worship Team, Grace Church CO Worship Director