Recently ending a twenty-year career as a choral director in public schools, Beth Watts Nelson can now be found pursuing her muse in various projects throughout the Kansas City area. A native Kansan, she recently released an EP of songs, Tallgrass, inspired by the Flint Hills. Her rocking string band, Little Miss Dynamite, combines the acoustic forces of some of KC’s finest musicians (Betse Ellis, Brandon Day, and Caleb Gardner) and released its debut EP, Grow Up in May 2024. Beth also sings and plays the clawhammer banjo in the fiery old time string band, Catgut, and is a founding member of the Konza Swamp Band, a long-standing pillar of the local Bluegrass scene.

Her newest duo project Beth and Brandon, performs original songs that sound as if they were already born with the patina of decades in the songbook of Americana. Their debut EP Washtucna Waltz released July 11, 2025. With a voice that cuts straight to your soul, and playing a vintage Martin guitar or clawhammer banjo, she will evoke smiles and tears—often at the same time.

Beth holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Kansas State University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Her songwriting awards include the Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase, the John Hartford Memorial Festival Songwriting Contest and the Ozark Mountain Soul Songwriting Competition. Her trio “The Harmony Sisters” won first place at the Kansas State FidPick Harmony Singing Competition. Beth is a 2023 recipient of the ArtsKC Inspiration Grant and a 2024 inductee of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Touring Roster. She is the founder and director of Notorious Chorus, a group singing workshop for adults in Kansas City.

BETH AND BRANDON (duo): Award-winning songwriting, close vocal harmonies and intimately expressive musicianship invites listeners to slow down, listen and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

LITTLE MISS DYNAMITE (four-piece string band): Original and old-timey songs with a powerful string band sound. Packs a punch!

CATGUT (five-piece old time string band): Traditional old-time music with the best flatfoot dancer around. Gotta see it to believe it!

KONZA SWAMP BAND (six-piece bluegrass band): Bluegrass, Old-Time and Good Old Country. Clear off some space on the dance floor!

Solo = $500 for 1-2 hour performance, additional $100 to provide sound

Duo = $1000 for 1-2 hour performance, additional $100 to provide sound

Full Band = $250 per 1 hour per person, additional $100 to provide sound

Notorious Chorus Community Harmony Workshop = $750 for 90 minutes

Children’s Songwriting Workshop = $500 for 1 hour Additional fees may be required for travel or lodging.

SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

Give Beth an hour with a group of kids and they will create the most wonderful song together! Spark creativity and grow in confidence through songwriting.

NOTORIOUS CHORUS HARMONY WORKSHOP

As the founder and director of Notorious Chorus, Beth builds on a twenty-year career leading choirs in public schools to bring the benefits of group singing outside the school walls. Making music for decades around the Kansas City area brings Beth in touch with all sorts of people that want to sing — people that miss singing in their high school choir, people who want to gain confidence in their voice or learn to sing in harmony and many, many people that would love to give singing a try but are afraid they might not be good enough. Notorious Chorus was designed to meet all of those needs in a relaxed and fun setting. A Master of Music in choral conducting, Beth delights in bringing people together in song and surprising participants with what they can achieve when they sing together! No supplies necessary. Can serve ten to one hundred people.