ALL ABOUT NATHAN SMITH

Nathan Smith is a third year DMA student whose work blurs the boundaries between contemporary classical, folk, and popular music. Drawing on his background in classical percussion and his passion for the singer-songwriter tradition, Nathan creates music that is rhythmically inventive, emotionally resonant, and deeply human. His compositions explore how percussion can expand and transform familiar genres, crafting sound worlds that are both intimate and expansive.

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“I love the honesty and storytelling that comes with the singer-songwriter tradition. It’s my goal to bring that same sincerity into my playing and composing. Music, to me, is about offering both the performer and the listener a moment of relief from the struggles of daily life — a temporary world created within a few minutes of sound.”

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Raised in the Dallas Texas, Nathan grew up immersed in a vibrant jazz and gospel scene. His early years were steeped in drumline and drum corps culture, and over the past fifteen years he has performed with and taught drum corps ensembles across the United States. He was a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps and taught the Jersey Surf D&BC, Guardians D&BC, and the Seattle Cascades D&BC where he was acting caption head for four seasons. He also taught at Cedar Park High School in Austin Texas, helping them win first place in the state of Texas 5A High School category and fourth place at Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis.

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Nathan earned his undergraduate degree in classical percussion at the University of Missouri under Dr. Julia Gaines, later moving to Austin, Texas, where he became an active member of the city’s thriving music scene. There, he developed a love for singer-songwriter music, collaborated across multiple genres, and received recognition including Austin Unsigned Artist of the Year and the LA Music Critics Blog’s “Number One Single” and “Fan Favorite” awards.

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In 2017, Nathan moved to Valencia, Spain, to pursue a master’s degree in Contemporary Performance from Berklee College of Music, studying with famed vibraphonist Victor Mendoza. After graduating in 2018, he toured throughout Europe, performing in renowned jazz clubs and historic music venues. In 2019 he moved to Seattle, where he performed with the Seattle Seahawks NFL drum line and taught in several programs including the University of Washington drum line and Northwest University.

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At the University of Arizona, he has been active in Wind Ensemble, the jazz program, and in various chamber groups. He is a student of Morris Palter and credits him with helping him find his voice and giving him the confidence to speak with it.