Mr. Nathan Whittaker, cello, BM, MM
Nathan Whittaker began his musical studies at the age of three and played his first public performance at age five. He was awarded scholarships to attend The Georgia Academy of Music and The Taft School, where he won the Alice B. Williams award and the P.T. Young Music Award. Additionally, he studied and performed at the Brevard Music Center, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Killington Music Festival. In 2003, Mr. Whittaker graduated Cum Laude from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance and received a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from Indiana University the following year. His private instructors have included Peter Wiley, Helga Winold, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Emilio Colon, Stanley Ritchie, and Robert Marsh.
Mr. Whittaker has enjoyed praise for his performance as a recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician both in the United States and Europe. For the past five years, he served as the principle cellist of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, associate principle cellist of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other ensembles throughout the Midwest. He was twice appointed cellist at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria where he performed with pianist Daniela Candillari. Recently Mr. Whittaker composed and performed a parodied transcription of J.S. Bach's Cello Preludes with "ravishing" (NYT) soprano Linda Tsatsanis to great acclaim. In addition to his activity as a modern cellist, Mr. Whittaker is a baroque cellist and has performed as both a soloist and a continuo cellist with such performers as Stanley Ritchie, Rachel Barton Pine, and Ingrid Matthews. Mr. Whittaker has been featured as a guest lecturer on various programs and severed as the primary lecturer for the "Behind the Scenes" program of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.
Mr. Whittaker has been teaching cello for over a decade; his students range from as young as four years old to adulthood, from beginners to advanced players. For several years, he worked at the Indiana University String Academy teaching private lessons, group classes, and directing concerts. He has served as coach and assistant conductor to the Columbus Indiana Youth Orchestra. His teaching philosophy consists of an unwavering understanding of technique, focusing on beauty of sound and elegance of expression. To Mr. Whittaker the cello is an extension of the soul - it is able to express what is otherwise untranslatable. While known for strictness of the fundamentals, Mr. Whittaker insists that beyond all else making music is, and should be, simply a fun and enjoyable experience.
Currently, Mr. Whittaker is pursing his DMA at the University of Washington with Professor Toby Saks. He enjoys a varied performance career as a soloist and with groups that range from the Bellevue Ballet to Seattle Baroque Orchestra.
2007-8 calendar year availability: Tuesday
e-mail: nhwhittaker@gmail.com
Nathan Whittaker began his musical studies at the age of three and played his first public performance at age five. He was awarded scholarships to attend The Georgia Academy of Music and The Taft School, where he won the Alice B. Williams award and the P.T. Young Music Award. Additionally, he studied and performed at the Brevard Music Center, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Killington Music Festival. In 2003, Mr. Whittaker graduated Cum Laude from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance and received a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from Indiana University the following year. His private instructors have included Peter Wiley, Helga Winold, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Emilio Colon, Stanley Ritchie, and Robert Marsh.
Mr. Whittaker has enjoyed praise for his performance as a recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician both in the United States and Europe. For the past five years, he served as the principle cellist of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, associate principle cellist of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other ensembles throughout the Midwest. He was twice appointed cellist at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria where he performed with pianist Daniela Candillari. Recently Mr. Whittaker composed and performed a parodied transcription of J.S. Bach's Cello Preludes with "ravishing" (NYT) soprano Linda Tsatsanis to great acclaim. In addition to his activity as a modern cellist, Mr. Whittaker is a baroque cellist and has performed as both a soloist and a continuo cellist with such performers as Stanley Ritchie, Rachel Barton Pine, and Ingrid Matthews. Mr. Whittaker has been featured as a guest lecturer on various programs and severed as the primary lecturer for the "Behind the Scenes" program of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.
Mr. Whittaker has been teaching cello for over a decade; his students range from as young as four years old to adulthood, from beginners to advanced players. For several years, he worked at the Indiana University String Academy teaching private lessons, group classes, and directing concerts. He has served as coach and assistant conductor to the Columbus Indiana Youth Orchestra. His teaching philosophy consists of an unwavering understanding of technique, focusing on beauty of sound and elegance of expression. To Mr. Whittaker the cello is an extension of the soul - it is able to express what is otherwise untranslatable. While known for strictness of the fundamentals, Mr. Whittaker insists that beyond all else making music is, and should be, simply a fun and enjoyable experience.
Currently, Mr. Whittaker is pursing his DMA at the University of Washington with Professor Toby Saks. He enjoys a varied performance career as a soloist and with groups that range from the Bellevue Ballet to Seattle Baroque Orchestra.
2007-8 calendar year availability: Tuesday
e-mail: nhwhittaker@gmail.com
