Nathan grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Music was always a big part of his life.  He regularly sang with his family of nine, annually caroling at shopping malls and the MSP airport.  As his talents developed and he was encouraged by professional musicians, he pursued a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance at Northwestern College in St. Paul.  After a two year leave from academia, during which he married Naomi, he returned to the world of higher education and received his Master of Music degree in voice performance from Lamont School of Music at Denver University in June 2010.

Since receiving his master’s Nathan has performed and recorded in a variety of venues.  He recorded Massif Trio Plays Schumann, Schubert, and Strauss with two guitars, played the role of Father in the NWC production of Children of Eden, sang with the male vocal ensemble Cantus, and performed the role of a sailor in the Guthrie Theater‘s summer 2011 production of H.M.S. Pinafore. He currently teaches voice lessons through his private home studio, the Academy of Music at Northwestern College, and area schools, and performs in the Twin Cities.

Naomi Bird (naomi.m.bird@gmail.com), who just happens to be Nathan’s accompanist, also grew up in the western suburbs, calling the Hopkins/Minnetonka community home until she married Nathan and they moved to the St. Croix Valley.  Her earliest music training was in piano. Flute joined her activities in junior high.  Naomi participated in Youth Orchestra and Chamber Choir through the Music Association of Minnetonka, travelling to Canada and italy for choral festivals.

From a young age she was involved with helping a number of people with disabilities and special needs. In 2002 she combined her passion for helping people with her love of music and began pursuit of a music therapy degree from the University of Minnesota School of Music.   After she and Nathan married in 2007 she interned at Good Samaritan Society – Stillwater, then worked at the same facility until moving to Denver for Nathan’s graduate schooling.  During their time in Colorado, Naomi taught piano lessons, accompanied choirs, and birthed a beautiful baby girl.  Naomi dearly misses her Colorado friends, Irma nights, and the amazing community at Mountain Midwifery Center. 

Since returning to Minnesota in the fall of 2010, she has had another beautiful baby girl, taught piano lessons, and has been having a thrilling time becoming more involved in Nathan’s career through administrative roles and concert projects.