Biography

Nathan is a clarinettist and bass clarinettist who enjoys a varied career. He recently received the Musicians’ Company Silver Medal, and has performed in many renowned venues such as Symphony Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, St David’s Hall and Wales Millennium Centre. Nathan has featured on radio broadcasts by Classic FM with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) Pops Orchestra, and by BBC Radio Wales/Radio Cymru as part of a side-by-side orchestra featuring members of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW) and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Nathan has played with several ensembles and orchestras at RBC, as well as the NYOW and CBSO Youth Orchestra. Nathan has also taken part in side-by-side sessions with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and took part in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Training Scheme. Nathan was a finalist of the RBC Woodwind Prize in 2020. Nathan has a passion for inspiring the next generation of musicians. In addition to teaching clarinet and saxophone, Nathan has been a member of the LEAP Ensemble for over 4 years. LEAP is a group of RBC students and alumni that perform across the UK, take workshops, and collaborate with other art forms. During his time with LEAP, Nathan was the clarinet tutor for Cornwall Youth Orchestra and Wind Orchestra’s residency in 2019. He has also taken part in several concerts for the Echo Eternal project, which brings many various art forms and communities together to commemorate the Holocaust each year.

Nathan has developed a keen interest in contemporary music. As part of the NYOW’s 75th Anniversary, Nathan recorded a series of new pieces by Welsh composers, where he premiered music by composers such as Bethan Morgan-Williams, Lloyd Coleman and Jo Thomas. He recently played bass clarinet in RBC’s production of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s opera Coraline, and also commissioned the composer Nathan James Dearden to write a piece for solo clarinet; the piece No other haven was premiered at the Machynlleth Music Festival in August 2021.

Nathan is currently undertaking an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at RBC, where he received the Headley Music Scholarship. Nathan is studying clarinet with Joanna Patton and Oliver Janes, while specialising in bass clarinet with Mark O’Brien. When he isn’t playing the clarinet, Nathan still manages to keep himself busy. He is Assistant Librarian at the CBSO, has recently taken up the position of Assistant Conductor with Bournville Clarinet Choir, and was Stage Manager for the CBSO’s recent production of Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen. Nathan also enjoys organising concerts. As part of his final BMus project at RBC, he organised a very successful collaborative concert, featuring clarinettists from RBC and CBSO. He also occasionally sings with Noteworthy Mixed Choir, who are based in his hometown of Maesteg,  South Wales. Outside of music, Nathan thoroughly enjoys sport. He used to swim for his county, as well as play football, golf and rugby at local and school level. Nowadays, Nathan prefers to watch sport, particularly rugby, where he gets extremely passionate while watching the Welsh rugby team. He also loves cooking and spending time with his friends and family.

Page Updated: April 2022

Musicians’ Company Award: Silver Medal – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 2021

Photo Credit: Phil Davies