Griffin Nelson

About Griffin

Griffin Nelson is a pianist and composer, currently studying at Ohio University under Dr. Christopher Fisher in the Honors Tutorial College. As a first-generation musician in his family, Nelson’s admiration for classical music has led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, as well as many recital and competition opportunities. Most excitingly, he has a performance set for July 21st, 2026 in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York — a milestone earned by placing 1st at the American Virtuoso International Music Competition in the Professional Artist category in Music from the 20th/21st Century. In past years he has earned a scholarship to attend the Otterbein University Summer Music Experience, in which he studied composition under Dr. Jennifer Merkowitz. Additionally, his performances at the Graves/Ohio MTA Piano Solo and Ensemble Competition have received honorable mentions in the Senior Solo, Young Artist Solo, and Adult Duet/Duo categories. He has experience in chamber music, performing piano trios with the Wyoming Fine Arts Center, as well as numerous piano duets, including works by Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Faure, Poulenc, Saint-Saens, and Kapustin, among many others. He currently works as an instructor of piano through the Athens Community Music School.

Nelson’s passion for piano literature proves to serve as a constant source of inspiration to achieve the highest levels of artistry and technical ability. He focuses on maintaining a well-rounded and balanced repertoire, although his most beloved music comes from 19th and 20th century Russia. His own repertoire includes music from many of the most celebrated composers for the keyboard, including J.S. Bach, Scarlatti, W.A. Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Felix Mendelssohn, Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Kapustin, Gershwin, Barber, and Debussy. In the coming years, he hopes to explore the works of Ravel, Prokofiev, Bortkiewicz, and Mompou.