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He won first place in the American String Teacher Association Alternative Music Competition in 2005, which included a winner's performance at the Nugget Casino in Reno, Nevada where he received the award for best musicianship and also where he first met Mark O'Connor. He has performed in concert with Mark while attending the Fiddle Camp in Nashville and the Strings Conference in San Diego and he in 2006 completed a national tour with Mark O'Conner's American String Celebration. His mentors include cellists Natalie Haas, Rushad Eggleston and Tristan Clarridge. Nat pursues classical studies with Carlton McCreery at the University of Alabama, with whom he has studied for eight years. He was the principal cellist in the Mississippi All-State Orchestra for 2006 and currently |
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plays cello in the Belhaven College String Quartet and is the assistant principal cellist for the Belhaven Chamber Orchestra. He enjoys playing many musical styles and adapting them to the cello. He studies with a local jazz guitarist, adapting many tunes from the jazz repertoire to cello. He is the cellist, bassist, and composer in his local band, 18 String Theory, and is a sought after soloist in the Jackson area, frequently performing and recording with local jazz, classical and traditional musicians. He is currently an 8th grader and is 13 years old.
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Nathaniel Smith began studying cello at five years of age and quickly
developed an interest in playing cello in a variety of musical settings.
He is a two time winner of the alternative instrument category at the
Southern Regional Fiddler's Contest.