Nathan Childers is a saxophonist, educator, composer and Yamaha Performing Artist. He is in demand as a woodwind specialist in New York City. Whether it's backing up Aretha Franklin at Jones Beach, recording with Dave Weckl and Mike Stern, performing with legendary rock band Deep Purple or acting as an on-screen performer for the movie Sex and the City 2, Nathan maintains a varied and busy schedule.
Nathan began his musical studies on piano at age 7 and started playing professional saxophone gigs at age 13. He has earned four degrees in music, including a master's degree in applied music and music teaching from Lehman College, a master's degree in jazz studies and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, a bachelor's degree in jazz studies and Afro-American music from the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor's degree in classical saxophone performance from the University of Massachusetts.
As a saxophonist, Nathan has performed with the Birdland Big Band, Broadway Theatre League Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Daryl Hall, Debbie Gibson, The Duprees, Frankie Valli, The Funk Brothers, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Gracie Awards Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Marilyn Maye, Michael Feinstein, The Temptations, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Tommy Igoe Sextet. He also played lead alto as part of the Buddy Rich Memorial Live Concert and DVD (featuring Chad Smith, Neil Peart, Peter Erskine, Terry Bozzio, Tommy Igoe and Will Lee). He has performed in notable performance venues, including the Beacon Theatre, Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Iridium, The Jazz Cruise, The Town Hall and many Broadway theatres as well as at the Vail Jazz Festival.
Nathan has been recognized by several national organizations such as DownBeat magazine, Saxophone Journal, the Hilton Head Jazz Society and the United States Department of State. His high-energy style can be heard as Lead Alto Saxophone of the Birdland Big Band. As such, Nathan has helped to shape a new sound in modern lead alto playing. Reviewer Dan Bilawsky in All About Jazz noted that "the melodically brilliant Nathan Childers… may be the best-kept-saxophone secret in New York."
Nathan's career also has included film and television appearances as an on-screen musician. These include Mildred Pierce (HBO), Mr. Popper's Penguins, Sex and the City 2, a Steve Schirripa TV pilot for Fox Television, The Post and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. He also worked behind the scenes on Mr. Popper's Penguins. Nathan has performed in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including The Best is Yet to Come, Come Fly Away, Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love, Kinky Boots, Memphis and The Wedding Singer.
As an educator, Nathan has conducted clinics, workshops and presentations at Amherst College, the Eastman School of Music, the Jazz Education Network Conference, Ithaca College, the New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators Conference, Orange County Jazz Educators Association Conference, Rutgers University, Salem State University, the University of Massachusetts and the United States Scholastic Band Association Conference. His teaching experience includes serving as Music Department Chair at Rockland Country Day School, Founder and Director of the Horizons Music Academy and Woodwind Instructor at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College.
As a composer, Nathan has been recognized by the BMI Composers Workshop, ASCAP and the Amherst College Music Department. He has enjoyed several commissions and is the music composer for the Visual Learning Company.
