MEET NATHAN COFFMAN, WINNER OF PYP’S 2017-18 CONCERTO COMPETITION

Posted on February 4, 2018

Nathan Coffman is the winner of the 2017-18 PYP Concerto Competition. He will perform Paul Creston‘s Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra with PYP on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Nathan Coffman, a senior at Southridge High School (SRHS), is Principal Percussionist of the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) and the first percussionist to win the PYP Concerto Competition since 1961.  He first encountered PYP in eighth grade, taking the free percussion classes taught by Oregon Symphony musicians. Nathan served as principal with the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra, and in multiple seasons played concurrently with all three ensembles.  As a PYP Peer Mentor, he also provides lessons to younger students.

At school, Nathan plays in SRHS’s Wind Ensemble and Pit Orchestra, and has participated in marching band. Also a jazz enthusiast, he has twice received Southridge’s nationally-recognized Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and co-founded “Indigo Jazz,” a performing combo that originated in his garage. In 2016 and 2017, Nathan won OMEA Solo/Ensemble District competition on orchestral snare and timpani, and medaled at the state level both years on each instrument. At college, he plans to major in percussion performance.

Nathan studies with notable percussionists Michael Roberts, Assistant Principal with the Oregon Symphony, and Gordon Rencher, Principal with the Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theater.  He studies jazz with Derek Sims, Tristan Weitkamp and Corey Foster, and continues to be inspired by his private drum set teacher of 9 years, Justin Matz, who taught him precision at an early age.