About the Conductor

Robert Nielsen, a Selma California native, began his teaching career in 1959 at Irwin Junior High (now CompuTech). In 1961 he moved to Reedley College where he conducted both concert and jazz band and taught Music History and Music Theory. He transferred to Fresno City College in 1978 where he taught Music Theory, History, Composition, Brass and Conducting, and from 1989 to 1999 he served as Chair of the Music Department. He retired in May 2001 but continues his love of teaching by serving as a part-time instructor of Music Appreciation and Composition at Fresno City College.

Throughout his teaching career, he has served as guest conductor and adjudicator at many festivals and concerts. Also, many of Mr. Nielsens's privated private trumpet students now fill positions at colleges and universities and in orchestras throughout the country.

As a free-lance trumpet player, he has appeared with many bands and shows in Fresno and in Reno and Lake Tahoe. Orchestral work has included 20 years as Principal Trumpet in the Bear Valley Festival Orchestra and 44 seasons with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, 29 of those as Pricipal Trumpet. He retired from the Fresno Philharmonic in 2000.

As a published composer and arranger, Mr. Nielsen's works are performed throughout the world, most recently by the Dresden Children's Chorus and the European Philharmonic Brass Quintet. The Fresno Community Concert Band has also performed many of his arrangements, and he has also composed several works for the Fresno State Wind Ensemble for their tours to Europe and Japan.

Mr. Nielsen was founding Music Director of Good Company Players, conducting their musicals for three years. He has also served as co-conductor of the Fresno Community Concert Band since its inception in 1993 and was recently appointed sole conductor. The band performs five pairs of regular season concerts plus several special events each year.

Mr. Nielsen maintains professional memberships in the Fresno/Madera Music Educator's Association, California Music Educator's Association, Music Educator's National Conference and the Internation Trumpet Guild..

Band History

The Fresno Community Concert Band began in October 1993 after a yearlong planning process by its organizers. Conceived as an organization that would provide an outlet for the many amateur musicians in the area, the band now boasts 75 members - all adults and all former high school or college band members.

Band members are comprised of a wide range of age and occupations, a cross section of the community. The band’s mission, besides providing a performance opportunity, is to perform the very best in classical and pops band literature in as many different venues as possible attracting large and diverse audiences. The Fresno Community Concert Band is unique in its mission; no other band like it exists in the area, and because of its professionalism and the dedication of its leaders and members, it will continue to present exciting concerts in the concert band tradition providing a substantial service to the community.

Conducting the band since its inception are Mr. Larry Huck and Mr. Robert Nielsen. The band’s first concert was held on February 3, 1994 to a capacity audience in the Fresno City College Theatre. Following this first successful concert, the band has expanded its performances each season to include concerts in the Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts, appearances at the Civil War Reenactment, participation in the CSU Fresno’s annual Wind Festival, broadcasts by Media One, participation in the Sacramento Band Festival and outreach Concerts in neighboring towns.