Bio

Nathan just likes to play music with and for people. He participated in a lot of musical activities as a child, but didn’t intend to go into music professionally when he went to university. In the end, that’s where life drew him however. He has masters and doctoral degrees in music from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and has been teaching at Memorial’s School of Music since 2007. Ask him about his love of science though, particularly chemistry, and you might be talking to him for quite some time!

Fun Facts About Nathan

When did you join the NSO?

Since 2008 I played occasionally in the cello section or as it’s leader, but I was appointed full-time principal cellist and joined the ASQ in 2022.

Who inspired you to learn how to play?

Gotta be my parents. Both are fantastic musicians, but not professionally. I think they instilled a love of music, probably because they didn’t do it for a living, but did it and enjoyed it anyway.

What’s your favourite piece of classical/orchestral music?

Sorry. It’s impossible to choose, because one of the beauties of classical music is its variety. Sometimes I’m in the mood for Brahms, sometimes its Bartok. Sometimes Dvorak or Copland is just the thing, but sometimes it’s a newer work I haven’t heard before by Morlock or Staniland. Honestly, as a player, usually my favourite piece is simply the one I’m currently working on.

If you could pick one artist to collaborate with, who would it be?

Yo Yo Ma. What a fantastic human being, and musician too of course.

What other non-musical creative outlets do you have?

Believe it or not, I like to “create” a clean kitchen after dinner. It’s more than just “doing the dishes” and wiping the counters. Yeah… you might think that’s weird, but there’s a science (even a creativity?) to how you organize the process. Those who know what I mean, know what I mean! 🙂