Tenia Nelson

As a 2023 Jazz Journalist Jazz Association Jazz Hero, LifeForce Jazz Records artist, pianist, percussionist, composer and arranger, and educator, Tenia Nelson has over 20 years teaching experience in ALL levels of education (Early Childhood through University). At the present time, Tenia teaches privately in her music studio and also teaches classes at Neighborhood Music at Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, Colorado and Tenia also mentors future musicians through GRAMMY U.

Tenia received her Bachelors of Music Education Degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2004, and her Masters of Music Degree (Jazz Studies) from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2010. Tenia is a board member of The Gift of Jazz organization, a non-profit based in Denver, which actively supports jazz performance in the Rocky Mountain region, in particular, to ensure that jazz remains a creative force in Colorado. Tenia is also a very proud and active member of the Recording Academy as well as a Governor for the Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter.

In addition to teaching, Tenia performs regularly at jazz venues in the Denver metro area, including Dazzle and Nocturne. Tenia is a freelance music artist and plays all types of music! Tenia co-leads a well-known Denver-based jazz group, Spherio, which focuses on arranging and playing the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk (Tenia Nelson, keys; Brendan O' Donoghue, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums). She also leads a group called Tenia Nelson Trio (Tenia Nelson, keys; Brendan O' Donoghue, bass; Alex Tripp, drums). In addition, as a freelance music artist, she plays all types of music. Tenia has played with Dianne Reeves, Ron Miles, Tia Fuller, Hugh Ragin, Kenny Walker, Brad Goode, Gabe Mervine, Greg Gisbert, Jon Romero, Adam Deitch(from Lettuce) just to name a few. Most recently, Denver’s premiere jazz radio station KUVO (declared one of the best jazz radio stations in the world) features Tenia's music and Spherio!

Tenia currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her family (her husband Tim, son, Thelonious, and dog Snowball).