Nathan Sawyer – conductor (USA)

Nathan Sawyer is studying a DMA in orchestral conducting under Kynan Johns at Rutgers University New-Brunswick where he currently conducts and assists with the flagship Symphony Orchestra, the Rutgers Sinfonia, the HELIX ensemble, and Rutgers Opera. He has held positions such as assistant conductor of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra to Stephen Alltop and the orchestra director for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Philharmonia and Illini Strings orchestras.

In the summer of 2019, Nathan’s conducting career began at the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Bulgaria where he studied with instructors Larry Rachleff and Donald Schleicher, conducting pieces by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Stravinsky.

Subsequently, Nathan was offered a place as a Masters of Music [Orchestral Conducting] candidate at the University of Illinois studying under Donald Schleicher and served as the manager for the University’s Symphony Orchestra. While at UIUC, he also studied with interim professor William Eddins and rehearsed and performed John Harbison’s Symphony No. 5 in the presence of the composer.

Nathan has also received other opportunities to work with ensembles such as participating in the Denver Philharmonic International Conducting Competition (2025), being a guest conductor for the New-Brunswick All-City Festival (2024), and being selected as an orchestra clinician with Lake Shore HS (2025).