Kayla Nelson

Kayla Nelson is a Lecturer of Horn at the Challey School of Music, North Dakota State University (NDSU). She actively performs and teaches, leading the student/community horn ensemble 'Horns of the North.' Her performance engagements include principal horn roles with the Fergus Falls Civic Orchestra and Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, alongside regional ensembles like the Fargo Moorhead Symphony and FM Opera. Internationally, she has participated in Brazil’s Pró-Música Music Festival.

Nelson holds a Master of Music (M.M.) from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from Concordia College. Her academic interests span music-neuroscience intersections and horn history, resulting in a globally recognized website on horn development. She is an active member of the International Horn Society (IHS) and International Women’s Brass Conference, previously serving as the IHS’s North Dakota representative.

Her teaching career includes maintaining a private studio and prior instruction at the University of North Dakota. Notable accolades include prestigious teaching awards from Western Michigan University. She has studied under prominent horn instructors and participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Hermann Baumann and Douglas Hill.