Livestream: Nathan Avakian

Nathan is a songwriter, film composer, and organist based in New York City. Known for his unique blending of virtual instrument technology with organ music, Nathan’s live performances satisfy contemporary musical tastes and pay tribute to the historical legacy of the pipe organ.

Nathan’s fascination with the pipe organ began at age four with a visit to the Portland Organ Grinder, a restaurant featuring live pop music played on a massive theatre organ with all of its mechanics exposed. At age eleven he began nine years of private organ studies with Donna Parker, and he was frequently coached by Jonas Nordwall.

Since winning the American Theatre Organ Society Young Organist Competition in 2009, Nathan has provided pipe organ entertainment across the United States and internationally including performances in Australia and New Zealand (2011 and 2017), Canada (2015), and Thailand (2018). He has released several albums featuring theatre and classical pipe organs as well as virtual orchestrations. From 2011-2013 Nathan served as the Youth Representative on the American Theatre Organ Society Board of Directors managing programs that recognize and support the work of young organ students.

As resident organist and composer for the International Youth Silent Film Festival, Nathan creates music that inspires young filmmakers around the world as they reinvent the art of silent film. He helped pioneer the festival’s expansion which includes 11 regionals across the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, Montenegro, and the United Arab Emirates.

Nathan scores historic silent films for Thanhouser Company Film Preservation as well as contemporary films by various filmmakers. His music has recently been featured in web series including Makers Who Inspire (Henry Thong) and The Creative Quarantine Sessions (Alex Whittenberg). Nathan also has a growing collection of piano and organ compositions to his credit including “At The Square,” commissioned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Jersey Journal publication in 2017.

In 2020 Nathan and his sister Claire started a songwriting business called Passing Notes  writing and producing personalized songs for customers and their loved ones.

Nathan also works as a freelance theatrical lighting designer. In 2014 he received a B.F.A. degree in lighting design from Purchase College, State University of New York.

For more information about Nathan’s music, visit www.avakianmusic.com.