David Nelson has made a career of freelance Percussion and Timpani playing in the Philadelphia area. He is Principal Timpanist of the No Name Pops, the Philly Pops and the Lancaster Symphony. He is a Percussionist with Orchestra 2001 and the Reading Symphony. David performs regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Ballet, the Delaware Symphony, and also plays with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. In David’s travels he has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Savannah Symphony, New World Symphony (Miami, FL) and the National Repertory Orchestra (Breckenridge, CO).
As an Educator, David joined the Percussion Faculty at West Chester University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2009. He teaches applied lessons, percussion methods classes, and directs the Steel Band. David was brought on as faculty and started a Percussion Ensemble at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 2015. He taught at the Darlington Fine Arts Academy for 10 years instructing all ages in Percussion, has instructed many High School Drum lines, and performs many educational concerts throughout the Philadelphia region. He enjoys playing Percussion duo concerts for both children and adults with his wife Angela, who is Associate Principal Timpanist and Section Percussionist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
David has recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Albany Symphony, NFL Films, and Orchestra 2001. Three of his latest Orchestra 2001 recordings were nominated for a Grammy award. He has also been asked to play Timpani and Percussion on the albums of L.L Cool J., Lana Del Rey, and R. Kelly.
David graduated from Temple University with his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Percussion Performance. He studied with Alan Abel, Glenn Steele, Jonathan Haas, and had additional studies with Cloyd Duff.
David is a Performing Artist for Zildjian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, and Innovative Percussion.
