Biography
Dr. Nathan Seamons has taught music at the Middle School, High School, College and University level. He has taught and schools of all sizes and demographics. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Brigham Young University, UT. Previously, he served as the Director of Bands at Snow College (UT), American Fork High School (UT), and Band Director for the Hurst Junior High School Band (TX), Lehi High School Band (UT), Gunnison Valley High School, and Gunnison Valley Middle School (UT).
He studied conducting under the baton of Professor Scott Hagen, Professor Thomas G. Leslie and Takayoshi “Tad” Suzuki. He has also studied conducting with Eugene Corporon, Dr. Mallory Thompson, and David Blackinton. He has served in his communities as Associate Conductors of the Wasatch Winds (UT) and Irving Symphonic Band (TX).
While teaching in Texas, Mr. Seamons was a teacher for the L.D. Bell High School Marching Band cluster. The Blue Raider Band placed 3rd in the 6A Texas UIL State Championships in 2012. In 2013 the band was a finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, IN. As Director of Bands at American Fork High School (UT), his marching bands won three consecutive state championships, two BOA Western Regional championships, and were semi-finalists at BOA Grand Nationals in 2018. His concert bands and jazz bands have consistently received superior ratings at local, regional, and state festivals.
In 2011, he was awarded by KSL news radio “Utah’s teacher of the week Teacher Feature.” During the 2011-12 school year, the Lehi High School Band won the Utah 4A State Championship in Marching Band, Winterguard in two different divisions, and Winter Drumline. The Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble also received superior ratings at the state contest for the first time in over 20 years.
He has performed in Hong Kong, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, England, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Canada. Mr. Seamons brings performance experience from the drum and bugle corps genre as a former member of the Anaheim Velvet Knights and Concord Blue Devils. He is a member of, and has conducted the Utah Premiere Brass (Utah’s only British brass band). His orchestral playing includes the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Seamons is the Immediate Past-President of the Utah Bandmasters Association. He currently serves as the Utah Chairman for the National Band Association. Mr. Seamons is an active band consultant, drill writer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. He is a sponsored Conn-Selmer Education Clinician.
He is a member of College Band Directors National Association, Utah Music Educators Association, Utah Bandmasters Association, and the International Trombone Association.
Research Interests
Conducting, interpreting, and evaluating wind band music, particularly new works by lesser-known and under represented composers provides a research interest for me. Other research includes visual performance for the marching band. I.e. have performers use proper movement elements to produce the best sound for an outdoor ensemble, using angular body motion to maintain the best visual artistic elements, and visual design. Using different physical set-ups and experimenting with sonic tendencies are part of my musical upbringing.Making wind band music accessible for small, rural, urban and under privileged students provides a research focus for me. Using flex arrangements, and creative orchestration to achieve wind band music in these schools provides a research focus for me in publishing, recording and performance.
Teaching Interests
My teaching interests include Conducting, Music Education, and Wind Band Music.I am very interested in finding productive, innovative, and creative best practices in music education. Equipping students with tried and true rehearsal strategies, coupled with new music education philosophies tied to music literacy provide a guide and interest to my teaching.
Creating and performing music from under represented and lesser-known composers is a focus of my teaching. Premiering new works for the wind band medium is an important part of my teaching and scholarship. Growing the repertoire is a goal for my teaching.