Meet the Musicians: Nathan Chan

By Leilani Polk

For Nathan Chan, music wasn’t just a hobby — it was a calling that began almost as soon as he could walk. As a toddler, he was captivated by three iconic live concert recordings: Boston Symphony with Seiji Ozawa, New York Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein and the Berlin Philharmonic with Herbert Von Karajan. “Watching those legendary conductors connect their physical movements with the music — it was mesmerizing,” Nathan recalls. He didn’t just watch; he often waved along with a chopstick like a mini maestro, emulating the greats he saw on screen. 

His early passion didn’t go unnoticed. At live performances in the San Francisco Bay area, Nathan would conduct from his seat. During one such concert, he caught the eye of Sara Jobin, then assistant conductor of the San Francisco Opera. She introduced herself to his parents, becoming Nathan’s first mentor. At just 3 years old, under her guidance, Nathan conducted the San Jose Chamber Orchestra in a set of Mozart Variations. A promising beginning for any young musician.

Nathan’s love for the cello emerged from those same concert recordings; he was drawn to the deep, resonant voice of the low strings. He started lessons at age 5, but his passion was solidified at 11 when he was featured on The Music in Me, an HBO documentary showcasing the talents of young artists. “Playing The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns in that documentary was a pivotal moment,” he says. The experience took him to New York City and the Carnegie Hall stage, where he and his family returned a few years later for a sneak preview of the doc. “Seeing myself on that big screen at Carnegie Hall, feeling the vibe in the room — it was incredible. It made me realize just how powerful music can be.” 

That Carnegie Hall moment also planted the seed for Nathan’s love of combining music with media. “I was already drawn to conducting through music and media,” he explains. “But after that, I became part of the media world myself and it felt like everything came full circle.” Soon after, Nathan began producing his own classical music content, posting videos to his YouTube channel and social media platforms. “I started by being influenced by music through media, then I became part of it and now I’m creating it myself.”  

His experience in New York also led to an unexpected opportunity: an invitation to record with Roberta Flack, who’d seen him in The Music in Me and invited Chan to take part in her Beatles covers project for Sony Records. He was only 14. “Roberta told me something in the studio that has stayed with me forever: to truly express music, you have to be brave enough to share what’s in the deepest part of your soul.” That moment taught Nathan the art of vulnerability, of letting go and being unafraid to show everything. 

Although he majored in Economics at Columbia University, Nathan soon realized that his passion for the cello outshone everything else. After Columbia, he earned his master’s in performance from The Juilliard School, where he honed his skills and prepared for orchestral auditions. His hard work paid off when he won a role with the Seattle Symphony. He currently serves as Assistant Principal Cello. 

This month marks another major milestone for Nathan, but this time in his personal life: he’ll be marrying fellow cellist Christine Lee. The two first met in high school while playing in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and though they remained friends for many years, their relationship blossomed when Christine moved back to the Bay Area to earn her chamber music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. “Christine is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Washington, where she’s the Strings and Piano Chamber Music Coordinator. She’s been inspiring young musicians and non-majors alike with her passion for chamber music.”

As for Nathan, the journey is far from over. “One day, I’d love to return to conducting,” he says. “But for now, I still have so much to learn as a cellist. Being in the Seattle Symphony has taught me so much about what makes a conductor truly exceptional. I’m in constant learning mode, absorbing what works in rehearsals and what creates magic in performances.”