Current commissions include a set of songs for tenor James Gilchrist, a major Sonata for cellist Charles Watt, a work for NOW ensemble, and a substantial solo piece for violinist David Chivers. Nathan is also working on his first opera, A Fountain Sealed, the Prologue and First Act of which was received to considerable acclaim following three showcase performances in June 2010, conducted by the composer.
Previous commissions include String Quartet 2010 for the Barbirolli Quartet, Call to Prayer for piano and strings for Bury St Edmund’s Cathedral (commissioned in memory of former Dean Neil Collings), Piece and Quiet for the Chamber Music 2000 project at the Purcell Room, and Things needed for a great celebration, commissioned by the Chacombe Music Festival 2010.
As a pianist Nathan has performed at most of London’s major recital venues and at numerous festivals and concert series around the UK, as well as at venues abroad including the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Palais du Residence, Atrium du Magne, De Doelen, the Lucerne and Bolzano Festivals, and many others. Alongside solo recital work Nathan has collaborated with artists such as Arisa Fujita, Nadia Wijzenbeek, Max Baillie, Guy Johnston, Marie Macleod, Alexander Somov, Richard Knight, Njabulo Madlala, and the Sacconi, Allegri, and Cavalieri quartets. Nathan will also be releasing his debut solo CD this year, funded by a private sponsor.
Other recent compositions include Music for piano trio, performed at the Menuhin Hall, and Crystal, a new commission for the launch of the Southwold Concert Series in October 2008, performed by Arisa Fujita, Max Baillie and Matthijs Broersma with the composer, as well as the Cabaret Songs for soprano Emilie Bregéon, Homecoming for US-based violinist Piotr Szewczyk, performed at the Santa Fe and Spoleto Festivals as well as on a tour of Germany, and Natipur, a collaboration with Sarangi and Tabla players Aruna Narayan and Hanif Khan and Endymion, was heard at LSO St Luke’s, The Gate, Cardiff and Turner Sims Concert Hall. Nathan’s first major orchestral work, As Chants Would Have It..., was commissioned by the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra of Korea and Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and premiered under Shinik Hahm in 2006, and String Quartet 2005 was commissioned for a residency at the Deer Valley Festival, Utah and premiered by the TinAlley Quartet.
In 2008 Nathan founded a concert series in his hometown of Southwold, on the Suffolk coast, now established as one of the primary musical events in the area. The series features a combination of high profile and emerging artists in bold programmes held throughout the calendar year, developing new audiences and educational outreach work in the local community.
Nathan studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Joan Havill and Malcolm Singer and at Yale University with Ezra Laderman and Martin Bresnick. He also worked closely with John Adams, David Lang, Aaron Jay Kernis, Joan Tower, and Joan Panetti, under whose direction he served as a teaching fellow at Yale upon graduating. He now teaches harmony, ear-training and music history at the Yehudi Menuhin School.
Nathan is a regular performer on the ‘Tiny Wurlitzer’ at Southwold’s exquisite and diminutive Electric Picture Palace, as well as serving as assistant director of music at the local church of St Edmund. He is on the committee of the unique and rather eccentric Southwold Model Yacht Regattas, held every year since the late 1800s, and he and his wife Daisy, a music therapist, love nothing more than walking, sailing, fishing, and generally anything else requiring large amounts of time in the beautiful Suffolk countryside around their home.
