Nate Bourg Founding Artist
In his own words...
I started in music as a piano student at age 7 in my home town of Pleasanton, CA. During my school years, I took up the clarinet and eventually percussion. The first time I played a mallet instrument, my life changed forever: I knew I had found my calling. Since then I've had the good fortune to learn from many outstanding educators, including Jim Casella, Jim Ancona, David Reeves, the late Ronald Graham, Dennis Aquilina, Murray Gusseck, David Flores, Glen Crosby, Ralph Hardimon, and Dr. Timothy Duncan. I studied percussion performance at San Jose State University and ultimately graduated from Cogswell Polytechnical College with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Audio Technology emphasizing on Music Composition and Arrangement and am currently both a Pearl Marching Artist and a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
Working with such fine musicians and educators has given me a unique chance to develop my style of writing. Artistically speaking, I tend to gravitate toward subtlety, beauty and expression. While I try to touch on those themes in my compositions, my tastes vary significantly, and I'm always looking to my colleagues, former teachers and outer influences for new ideas and sources of inspiration.
Being able to make a living as an educator, composer/arranger and program director is a blessing that I never take for granted. One of the primary things that motivates me to continue in this career is knowing what we do can really effect peoples’ lives. When you play an active part in changing someone's life for the better, the feeling of satisfaction is indescribable. I think music (and music education specifically) has that power, and we should always hold it at a high value accordingly.
Currently, I live in the Lower Haight district of San Francisco, CA, a city which I love and might never leave...
Comments from D'Rumpus
The first time we heard Nate’s music we were instantly hypnotized by the warm, lush soundscape that he created. By frequently using non-standard meters and atypical arpeggiated phrases, his music is not only fun to play but interesting as well. We hope you enjoy his music as much as we do!
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
- Amador Valley High School 1997 WGI Scholastic Concert 2nd Place (P)
- Santa Clara Vanguard 1999 DCI World Class Champions (P)
- Santa Clara Vanguard 2000 Mike LaPorta Percussion Award (P)
- DCI 2002 I&E Percussion Ensemble Champions (P)
- Beyer High School 2004 WGI Scholastic A 2nd Place (E) (M)
- Vanguard Cadets 2004 DCI Open Class High Percussion (E) (M)
- Beyer High School 2007 WGI Scholastic Open 3rd Place (E) (M)
- Vanguard Cadets 2008 DCI Open Class Champions and High Percussion (E) (M)
- Vanguard Winter Percussion 2011 WGI Independent Open Class Champions (E) (M)
- Cogswell Polytechnical College Bachelor of Science in Digital Audio Technology emphasizing on Music Composition
AFFILIATIONS:
- Amador Valley High School (P) (E) (M)
- San Jose State University Percussion, Jazz, and Wind Ensembles (P)
- San Jose State University Marching Band (E) (M)
- Santa Clara Vanguard (P) (E)
- Beyer High School (E) (M)
- Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets (E) (M)
- Vanguard Winter Percussion (E) (M)
- Oak Grove High School (E)
- Lynbrook High School (E)
- Kamehameha High School (E)
- Vic Firth Education Team Member (E)
- Pearl (E)
