tommy nelson

Tommy Nelson is the executive director and founder of the Solace Independent Percussion Ensemble (2010 WGI PIA 5th place finalist) and has worked with many ensembles in the Gulf Coast area including: Choctawhatchee High School, Escambia High School, Pace High School, Tate High School, and Picayune High School. He served as percussion director at Pine Forest High School for 4 years and formed the Pine Forest High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble (2008 WGI PSA 8th place finalist) in which he utilized his talents as music arranger and visual designer. Tommy also proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, EVANS Drumheads, and Dynasty Drums. 

His marching experience includes EmiNence Indoor Percussion Ensemble from Hattiesburg, MS from 2003-2005 (PIO Finalists), The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2005 (DCI Semi-Finalists), and Music City Mystique from Nashville, TN in 2007 (WGI PSW Silver Medalists). 

Tommy is actively teaching in the Gulf Coast in areas of battery percussion, front ensemble, music arrangement, and drill design. He is involved in the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit and has participated as a clinician at the annual PAS Northwest Florida Day of Percussion since 2005. He currently resides in Pensacola, FL.