Mr. Nelles currently teaches music and English at Prince George Secondary School. After teaching mathematics and music in Valemount for 15 years, he moved with his family to Prince George in 2005. Mr. Nelles plays trombone and tuba in several organizations in town including the PGSO, the Prince George Community Band, and In the Mood Big Band, and regularly plays in the pit orchestras for Judy Russell summer productions, most recently The Producers, Les Miserables, Spamalot, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables, and many more.

 

Mr. Nelles graduated from the University of Victoria in 1990 with a Bachelor's of Education with distinction degree, with a double major in English and Music, and received his Masters of Education from the University of British Columbia in 2013.

 

Mr. Nelles’ introduction to music came at the age of 9, when he was asked to "un-join" league soccer, and in looking for another opportunity joined the Powell River Boys Choir in 1977. The cruel and merciless teasing he received from this decision faded quickly when he began touring extensively throughout North America and Europe with the world renowned choir. The choir released many albums of choral music. In 1980, The Powell River Boys Choir sang at the XIV International Society of Music Education conference in Warsaw, Poland. Mr. Nelles spent 8 years singing under Don James, and participated in the first two International Choral  Kathaumixw (Coast Salish, translation: a gathering together of different peoples) festivals. Mr. Nelles has lost count, but believes he may have sung with a 15 or more choirs in the last 46 years. In 2015, Mr. Nelles began playing with the Synergy Handbell Choir, based in Prince George.