Meet Nathan Hall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Hall.

Nathan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a composer and artist who works mostly with sound to explore fields like history, science, nature, climate, and sexuality. I started off playing piano as a kid, but continued to write music well into college, when composition took a priority over perfecting my scales. I love learning and am curious about so many things like art, religion, anthropology, but the music kept winning out. I worked at art museums along the way, guiding tours and managing offices, and decided there must be a way to combine all my interests into something career-based.

My biggest life-changing moment thus far was probably when I got a Fulbright to Iceland. Living there for a year really expanded my world and showed me the opportunities I never would have thought possible in the arts, and allowed me to immerse myself in a deeply creative, historical culture. I keep being inspired by these experiences today, whether I’m teaching, making jewelry, working retail, composing, or making art installations. Back in the States, I finished a doctorate in music at CU Boulder, and now live in Denver with my partner exploring many creative paths!

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth or predictable road! Sometimes I will make a great opportunity happen and then I will expect other good things to spin-off of this, and then….nothing. I’ve been asked to compose many music pieces that never even ended up getting played. Some pieces I wrote and they took years to come to fruition. I would deplete my bank account and wonder if I’d need to just change careers entirely. Sometimes criticism can still be really hard for me to take. But something inevitably comes along to push me to keep going. Maybe I’m also stubborn and don’t want to give up or maybe it’s the warmth from people who do get something out of my work that makes it worth it.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a composer and artist, and much of my work ends up being site-specific, meaning you could really only experience my works in a place at a particular time. I think that’s quite unique for a composer. I’m also most proud of my most personal works, which deal with my sexuality as a gay man. It can be very nerve-wracking to put myself out there in a vulnerable way, but those are often the works that resonate the most with people.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love Denver as it’s a relatively “new” city for contemporary arts. I feel like I’ve been able to make a little niche for myself. But at the same time, it can be limiting. For those starting out I would definitely recommend diving deeper than just our ‘Tier I’ arts orgs–make friends with lots of the Tier III smaller organizations and show them some love! This will also help you get connected to Denver’s small-ish but very supportive arts community.

I would love to see Denver add more rail and bus service cross-town, and more trees for redeveloped neighborhoods. I’m a big advocate for mass transit and walkability.

Contact Info:

• Website: nathan-hall.net
• Instagram: @thisisnathanhall
• Facebook: @nathanhallcomposer

Image Credit:
GALA Choruses, Tom Little, Third Dune Productions, Denver Art Museum

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