Dr. Ted Nichelson, Harpist for Southern California

Bring a unique touch to your special event with the elegance and beauty of live harp music! Harpist and pianist Dr. Ted Nichelson is one of the most hired professional musicians in Southern California, with over 15 years of experience performing at more than 1,000 events, ceremonies, concerts, and recitals in California, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. He is available as a solo harpist and also offers a harp/flute or harp/violin duo and a harp/flute/cello trio. His musical talent has brought a touch of class to weddings, receptions, funerals, bar mitzvahs, corporate functions, office parties, school presentations, and holiday programs throughout the United States.

Ted is a native of Normal, Illinois. He earned a Doctor of Arts degree in Harp Performance and Music Education from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana and a Master of Music degree in Harp from the University of Michigan. Ted also received a Bachelor of Music in Harp from Illinois Wesleyan University and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, national music honorary society. Currently, he is a freelance harpist in Hollywood, California and serves Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.

Ted has performed at hundreds of functions throughout Southern California and for events hosted by well-known Los Angeles personalities. He appeared as a wedding harpist in the feature film Young, Single and Angry, and on television in Tool Academy (VH1) and The Lazy Environmentalist (Sundance Channel). Ted has also been seen performing at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Hollywood Forever, Forest Lawn Mortuary, and the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.

He served as a harpist in the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra, Illinois State University Symphony, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and many other orchestras in the Metro-Detroit and Indianapolis areas. His primary teachers include Martha Burwell, Lynne Aspnes, and Elizabeth Richter. Ted has also studied harp with Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo School (Camden, Maine), Alice Spero Keene of the University of Illinois, and Ruth Myers of Eastern Michigan University. He served as a harp teaching assistant at both the University of Michigan and Ball State University, and taught harp on the faculty of Indiana Wesleyan University. Ted also has numerous solo and guest performances to his credit and played regularly for church services at College Avenue United Methodist Church, Muncie, Indiana.

Ted earned a graduate degree in Musicology from Illinois State University and a portion of his research was published in the Winter, 2000 issue of The American Harp Journal, a scholarly music periodical. He also teaches piano professionally and maintained large studios in both Ann Arbor, Michigan and Muncie, Indiana. Ted is a member of the American Harp Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and the National Guild of Piano Teachers.

In 2007 he received a "Pioneer Hall of Fame" award from University High School, Illinois State University.

Ted Nichelson is also the author of the best selling coffee table book Love to Love You Bradys which he co-wrote with Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen and is published by ECW Press.

He performs frequently with Sara Andon, Professor of Flute at the University of Redlands, and Vicki Bacon, Cellist in the Long Beach Symphony. They are also available to perform at your next event.

• A Mighty Fortress
• A Time for Us
• Abide With Me (Eventide)
• All I Ask of You
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• At River Bend
• Autumn Leaves
• Canon in D
• Caro Mio Ben
• Clare de Lune
• Coventry Carol
• Don't Cry for Me Argentina
• Edelweiss
• Fur Elise
• Great Day
• Harmony of the Angels
• Harp of the Western Wind
• Here Comes the Bride
• I Get a Kick Out of You
• Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
• John Dunbar Theme
• Joyful Overture
• Landscape
• Little Fountain
• Lo How a Rose
• Midsummer's Night Dream
• Moonlight Sonata
• Morning Has Broken
• Morning Splendor
• Music Box Melody
• O Holy Night
• O Perfect Love
• Panis Angelicus
• Pie Jesu
• Red Rose Tango
• Silent Night
• Snowflakes
• Summer Cotillion
• Summer Song
• Sunrise, Sunset
• Swan, The
• Think of Me
• Through the Eyes of Love
• Tarumerei
• Trumpet Tune
• Trumpet Voluntary
• Water Music
• We'll Meet Again
• What Child is This
• Where Eagles Soar

Anniversaries, Apres Ski Parties, Awards Nights, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Casinos, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fraternity Functions, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, Jingles, Movie Soundtracks, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Resorts, Restaurants, Reunions, Showers, Sorority Function, Studio Session, Temples, TV Soundtracks, Weddings

• Ted added elegance to the private dinner pary I held for my family. My mother who is older in age ususally does not like any background music. She called and said that the music was enchannting. My brother in law thought it was a CD before he entered and saw Ted. Ted played the whole two hours without a break. He played throughout our dinner. I kissed him on the cheek at the end of the night and hugged him tightly to express my gratitude as he had added SO MUCH ambiance to the event. -- Susana D, Los Angeles, CA, 1/5/2008
• Excellent all around - I got many compliments on Ted's addition to the evening. -- Steve B, North Hollywood, CA, 12/16/2006
• Ted was easy to work with, prompt and communicated well in making plans for his performance. Everyone enjoyed his music very much and felt he was a classy addition to our Holiday Party. -- Jodi M, Corona Del Mar, CA, 12/13/2006
• Ted was great! Very conscientious, curteous and easy to work with. He showed up timely, and a played very well. I would recommend Ted to anyone looking for a harpist. Every part of the experience was a joy. Ted is the consumate professional, looks the part, and sounds great while performing. I am glad he was a part of the wedding day. Thanks again Ted! -- Josh L, City Of Industry, CA, 11/18/2006
• Not only is Ted Nichelson kind, and professional, he is extremely talented. My wedding was so beautiful, and would not have been so elegant had I not hired Ted. I am and will forever be grateful to Ted for the outstanding performance he gave at my ceremony and pre-reception. I will always recommend him. Thank you Ted. Michelle Trujillo (Ramirez) -- Michelle R, Huntington Beach, CA, 9/23/2006
• Ted was theperfect complement to my event. He not only played well, but the overall comment by guests is how his harp playing set the mood for a beautiful wedding. I would highly reccomend him to anyone. -- Claudette N, Duarte, CA, 7/1/2006

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