Nathaniel is the Music Director at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Being the sole music director in the school district, he teaches one Band (which encompasses Marching Band in the fall, Pep Band in the Winter, and Concert Band year-round) choir, Madrigals, and also teaches Guitar I & II, Music Production, and History of Rock and Roll. Nathan graduated in May of 2023 with High Honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Nathan, an active musician and conductor, also works as the Choir Director at St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Urbana, IL, and has been an active church accompanist for many years. He is originally from Roberts, IL, a small, rural village an hour north of Champaign-Urbana. Nathan has worked with students of all ages from pre-k through adults. Nathan believes that music is for everyone. Music is a key component of everyday life, and people create music in various shapes and forms. Nathan’s goal as a teacher is to meet students wherever they are in their musical journey and do what he can to help them continue moving forward in their appreciation for music and passion for creating it. He also strives to ensure that the music being taught is relevant to his students’ lives. In the end, Nathan’s goal isn’t for his students to become perfect musicians (a level he acknowledges he hasn’t reached himself), but rather that they learn and grow in their studies and continue to love music after working with him. Nathan is thrilled to be rejoining the team at the Champaign School of Music, and can't wait to meet future students!
