WORLD DRUM CORPS HALL OF FAME, INC
Nomination submission form, Please Print
Nominee: Art Nelson Date Submitted06/01/07 (Deceased)
29-F Meadowbrook Court,Guilderland, N.Y. 12084
Sponsors: William A. McGrath. Jr. Home Phone 585-426-0346
E-Mail:
Category: Check One: Brass__Percussion_X_ Field __General__
PERFORMANCE HISTORY Jr. Corps & Sr. Corps
Name Empire State Grenadiers Years 1954-58 Snare Drummer
Name Interstatesmen (Sr) Years 1958-60 Snare Drummer
INSTRUCTION HISTORY Jr. Corps & Sr. Corps
Use all that apply to describe your position: Inst/Asst Inst/Arranger/Designer/Visual Design
Name: Valiant Crusaders (Jr.) Years: 1957-64 Percussion Instructor/Arr.
Name: Pittsfield Monarchs (Jr.) Years: 1960-65 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Pittsfield Sky Hawks (Jr.) Years: 1960-64 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: St. Joseph's Islanders (Jr.) Years: 1960-67 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Pittsfield Blue Angels (Jr.) Years: 1962-67 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Wynantskill Killmen (Jr.) Years: 1965-71 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Ft. Edward Vagabonds (Jr.) Years: 1967-69 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Magnificent Yankees (Jr.) Years: 1967-74 Percussion Instructor /Arr.
Name: Speigleaires (Jr.) Years 1972-73 Percussion Consultant
Name: Emerald Knights (Jr.) Years 1973-74 Percussion Consultant
ADMINISTRATION HISTORY: Jr. & Sr. Corps N/A
JUDGING HISTORY: NY State Chapter All Am. Judges Assoc 1964-74 Percussion
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS: by Nominee: (Individual Championships, Drum Corps Innovations, and other related Drum Corps activities). For more space use the back page under special achievements:
Art was a snare drummer in the Empire State Grenadiers and the Inter-Statesmen D&B of the Pittsfield, Mass, Schenectady, Troy, Albany, NY area from 1954-60. In the early 60’s Art broadened his scope and began to teach Junior Corps in the area. A word that best described his teaching style was “intense” as he was very strict and demanded a very high level of focus and musicianship from his drummers which paid big dividends in results. Through the use of such techniques as “Tuned Bass” he was able to present the percussion section as a musical unit instead of just a battery accompaniment. If you had the opportunity of listening to any percussion part written by Art you could hear that it fit very well and made musical sense.
Art had established a relationship with Fritz Berger, from Switzerland, who was considered the father of Swiss Rudimental Drumming. Annually Art would take a trip to Switzerland and upon returning would share and convey these concepts of what he had learned. Therein Art was one of the first American Drummers to use Swiss Rudiments in American Drum Corps. Art had also established an alliance with Alzieam (Alfonse) Gieder, of Switzerland, John S. Pratt of West Point, N.Y. and William (Buck) Souisman of Baltimore, Md who all shared Art’s passion for conveying this history, relevance and importanceto today’s drummers.
He was Percussion Caption Chairman in the NY Chapter of the All Am. Judges Assoc. in charge of training new Percussion Judges. As such he was well known for his sense of fairness and keen knowledge of music. Several Drummers and Percussionists today revere this man for the high level of performance, instruction and judging that he showed us along the way! Art Nelson helped create an entire next generation of Drum Corps people. Some of the highlights of his efforts include a corps that defeated the Garfield Cadets,two World OpenFinalists, a 2nd place finish in NY Championships, a Yankee Circuit Championship, a corps that defeated Blue Rock in Percussion,a World OpenClass B title, and a corps that made DCI Assoc. Membership.
SPONSOR COMMENTS: Why do you feel this Nominee should be selected to be in the HOF? Art Nelson has since passed away but he was an inspiration to all those who he worked with! Those who came into contact with him surly developed an appreciation for the art of music and good competition which served them in all aspects of their lives. This is the legacy that he left to the worldof Drum and Bugle Corps and to the hundreds of students lucky enough to have known him as teachers and friend.