Nathan Avakian is the 2009 overall winner of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) Young Theatre Organist Competition.  His fascination with the theatre organ began at the age of four with a visit to the Portland Organ Grinder restaurant.  He began formal organ studies with Donna Parker at age eleven and has been frequently coached by Jonas Nordwall.

As a concert artist, Nathan performs internationally for various organizations and organ preservation societies.  He recently completed a six-week concert tour of Australia and New Zealand, sponsored by the Theatre Organ Society of Australia.  Scholarships from ATOS, Columbia River Theatre Organ Society, and Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society have helped fund his lessons and trips to organ workshops in Colorado, Illinois, and Arizona.  In 2010, Nathan was commissioned to compose five original theatre organ soundtracks for the Youth Silent Film Festival, a Portland Rose Festival event that gives young filmmakers the opportunity to create contemporary silent films to theatre organ music.  Nathan is the current ATOS Youth Representative to the Board.

In addition to his experience as an organist, Nathan is a skilled theatre technician and musical theatre performer.  He is currently pursuing a B.F.A. degree in theatrical lighting design from Purchase College, State University of New York.  In addition to performance and technical theatre experience with organizations including Oregon Children’s Theatre, Krayon Kids Musical Theatre Company, Canby Community Theatre, and the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy, Nathan completed 12 years of dance training and performance with Westside Dance Academy in various styles including tap, jazz, and ballet.

As a musician, Nathan’s mission is to showcase the versatility of the theatre organ by playing music from a wide variety of eras and styles.  Nathan hopes to promote interest in the theatre organ among people of all ages to ensure that the instrument is kept alive for future generations.