Composer Lorraine Nelson-Wolf
American Pianist, Harpist, Accordionist, Vocalist and Composer
A brief look at the career of Lorraine Nelson-Wolf, a young composer whose works have been performed in many venues.
A budding concert pianist by the ae of fifteen, Lorraine Nelson-Wolf turned her talents to composition and has been reaping the rewards for many years. Her works can be heard on CDs and online at her personal website.
Born in Tarrytown, New York, on February 4, 1963, Lorraine showed musical talent at an early age. She began her piano studies in upstate New York and earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. This was followed some years later with the degree Master of Music in Piano Performance. from Purchase (NY) Conservatory. She was also awarded the Order of the Shield Diploma, Neupauer Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylania.
Nelson-Wolf's Songs
Lorraine has composed classical, pop and religious music and one of her sacred compositions, "One Light," was performed in over 70 churches last year.
Many of her songs are award winners, including "I Can Feel Your Love," co-written with her husband, guitarist and composer Godfrey Nelson, which had a printing of 100,000 CDs. She has also been honored with awards from ASCAPLUS. The last few years have been concentrated in the Christian music area, and her Christian CDs have also received wide distribution. Beginning with "Songs from Hopewell," (she is the music director of Hopewell Reformed Church in Hopewell Junction, New York ), and continuing with "Come Follow Me," (Parents' Choice award-winning children's CD), Lorraine has been a main force in the Christian music scene, also having had many of her compositions appear on the Guideposts website from time to time.
Conductor on Broadway
In her earlier years Lorraine was associate conductor and keyboardist for such shows as Grease, Senator Joe, and Jekyll and Hyde. This was followed by the position of Music Director and keyboardist for the hit shows Smile, Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Vivors and Cowgirls.
While this was rewarding both musically and personally, Nelson-Wolf soon gravitated to the spiritual messages in her compositions, which have been lauded by all those who have the opportunity to hear them.
Lorraine Nelson-Wolf is also a performing accordionist, and her latest composition was " Centuries," for harp, accordion and guitar, co-wrritten with her husband and performed at the Tenri Cultural Center, New York City.
While she has earned many honors and awards, Lorraine lives a simple life in upstate New York with her husband and their daughter Lauren, a 10-year-old budding flutist. Godfrey Nelson is also a recording engineer with a fully-equipped studio on the premises, and he is kept busy recording many CDs for various performing artists. You can hear excerpts of Lorraine's compositions at her web site: Lorraine Nelson-Wolf
Sources
An Interview with Lorraine Nelson-Wolf, 2008
A brochure, "Composers," written by Jenny and Jessie Yugli, NYC, 2005
For more information about women in music see
Composer Eugenie Rocherolle,
Dramatic Soprano Gerda Nielsen,
