Ronald A. Nelson

Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Ronald A. Nelson taught elementary and junior high vocal music there and served as Music Director in two Lutheran parishes. He was then called to Westwood Lutheran Church in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, where for 37 years he directed choirs with members ranging in age from 3 to 85. The unique Choir School which was the heart of the program involved over a thousand children during those years, and the adult and high school choirs presented major works each year. Recordings by the Westwood Choristers have been widely used to teach children the great hymns of the church.

A summa cum laude graduate of St. Olaf College, from which he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1967, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison (M.Mus.), he was presented with the F. Melius Christiansen award by Minnesota ACDA in 1985. His setting of the Lutheran Holy Communion Liturgy is found in the worship books of both ELCA and LCMS congregations.

In “retirement” he devotes his time to the composition of both choral and keyboard works as well as occasional speaking and guest conducting engagements. He and his wife Betty Lou now live in Minneapolis.