Expertise • Enthusiasm • Excellence
Nathaniel Meyer
Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba
Nathaniel Meyer received his BA from Yale, studying with Alan Dean and Albert Pietro, and his MMus from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has performed in masterclasses with Hakan Hardenberger, Christopher Martin, Gabriel Cassone, John Wallace and others. He was a member of the Young Artists Orchestra at the BU Tanglewood Institute, first prizewinner of both the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competitions, and second prizewinner of the BSO Concerto Competition.
In addition to WSM, Nathaniel teaches in his private studio in Belmont and in the Lincoln Public Schools; and previously in the Waltham Public Schools and St. Mark’s School in Southborough. His private students have been selected for the Junior and Senior District Festivals, the Massachusetts All-State Festival (including principal trumpet), and have received musicianship awards from the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. They have performed in Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and Sanders Theater with the Boston Youth Symphony, the Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble, and the NEC Prep Jazz Ensemble.
Nathaniel has performed as Principal Trumpet with the Boston Philharmonic, Symphony Pro Musica, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, and Yale Symphony Orchestra, and also has made a number of professional concerto appearances. As conductor, he is Music Director of Coro Dante, and has also conducted the Metrowest Symphony and the Concord Orchestra.
Meet Nathaniel
- How/what age did you start your instrument?
At 8 years old. I began studying the piano three years before that. My uncles always played trumpet and trombone at our family holiday parties. I asked them to let me try to play a few notes, and that's how I got started. Pretty soon we had a little family brass band and we would go out to perform during the winter and also during the summer! - Did you come from a musical family?
All of my family members play musical instruments, and music has always been a central part of our lives. My two sisters studied piano, flute, violin and french horn, and my younger brother studied piano and trumpet. My parents studied piano, clarinet, violin, and french horn. - Best, funniest or worst musical memory from childhood?
It might seem unbelievable, but I once fell asleep during a performance! It was a band competition in which our school was competing. Luckily, the trumpet player sitting next to me noticed that I was asleep and woke me up just before my big solo. Thank goodness everything went really well and our band ended up winning a top prize. - A highlight or two from your performing career:
I have been fortunate to travel the world with music, performing in some of the finest concert halls, on four continents. Music is truly a universal language, and it is amazing how it bridges cultures and creates human understanding. - What do you love about teaching?
It is great to be able to motivate students to reach their full musical potential and to help them overcome technical and musical challenges. I hope that my students will develop a life-long love of music, and that practicing their instrument will help them grow as musicians as well as human beings. - What would you like your students to know about you?
The keys to success for good brass playing involve practicing daily fundamentals which will help to develop a good solid embouchure and to play with ease and efficiency in all ranges. This takes time, and daily commitment, but it is amazing how much progress can be achieved through focus and discipline! - Can you share a non-musical fun fact about you?
I enjoy playing tennis, hiking, and I have a new puppy named Islay who is a yellow labrador retriever.