Coaching your chamber ensemble can be so fun and also a little stressful :) Your students need the freedom to 'figure it out', but there isn't enough time in coachings to teach the music and the skills they need to rehearse well.
I've been there too (and still am every Saturday!) and I often feel the pull between having them prepared for the upcoming concert or taking the time to talk about rehearsal technique and mindset at the risk of not getting to some of the music.
That's where String Quartet Academy comes in. Our goal is to give your students everything they need to prepare their own parts and rehearse well so you can focus on the music.
Thanks for checking it out!
-Nathan
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Nathan Cottrell, a native of Huntington Beach, California, is active across the United States as cellist, chamber musician and teacher. He is currently based in New York while engaged as DMA student under Colin Carr and with Pelia Quartet under the guidance of the Emerson String Quartet.
Prior to moving to New York, Nathan was Cello Fellow with the Montgomery Symphony and Artistic Director of the Montgomery Music Project where he conducted and coached over 75 young musicians in orchestra and chamber music. His work focused on community outreach and musical exposure to the youth in Montgomery and surrounding communities. In addition, he conducted the Auburn Community Orchestra and was on faculty at Auburn University. Concert tours have taken him to Asia, Europe and North America.
Awards include prizes from the William C. Byrd International Competition, the Beethoven Club Competition, the Delta Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition and the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. His Bachelor’s degree was earned at Biola University where he was a featured soloist with the Biola Symphony Orchestra, cellist of the Honors Quartet and adjunct conducting faculty while still a student. He has since been sought after to return as Guest Conductor and Studio Artist.
During his time at the University of Memphis Nathan earned his Master’s degree in cello performance under the tutelage of Leonardo Altino and orchestral conducting under Pu-Qi Jiang. His Performance Certificate in cello was completed at Michigan State University under Suren Bagratuni.
Nathan has recorded and performed with several rock/pop bands in such venues as The House of Blues, Los Angeles, and The Roxy Theatre and can be heard on the Blue Griffin and Biola University labels as well as on live broadcasts from WKAR and KUSC.
Nathan lives happily with his wife, four kids, black lab, six chickens, and a gecko on Long Island.
