Don Nathan

Don Nathan was the Director of Bands at Worthington Kilbourne High School from 2006 to 2019 and worked at all levels in Worthington Schools for 31 years. Under his direction the Worthington Kilbourne Wind Ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall twice, and at both OMEA and MENC professional development conferences. He instituted an active commissioning program which includes works from John Mackey and Roger Cichy among others.

In addition to his duties as Director of Bands, Don maintained a private clarinet studio and worked as the woodwind specialist for the middle and high schools.  His clarinet students have gone on to major in music, teach music, and perform. They have attained membership in several honors groups including the Ohio All-State Band and the NAfME All-National Band. In 2008, Don was honored with the Johnstone Woodwind Master Teacher Award as the Ohio Woodwind Teacher of the Year. Professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, the International Clarinet Association, the Ohio Music Education Association, and the National Association for Music Education. 

Don maintains an active schedule as a clarinetist, formerly holding the principal chair in the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Currently Don is an educational consultant and performing artist for Pyne Clarion and an Ambassador for SeriO Clarinets. He performs on Buffet and SeriO clarinets.  He is the founder and director of the Central Ohio Honors Clarinet Choir and the Orchestra Director and frequent soloist at Grace Polaris Church. Previously, he was the Director of Bands at Reynoldsburg High School in Ohio and South Salem High School in Salem, Oregon. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music from The Ohio State University where his principal teachers were Donald McGinnis and Craig Kirchhoff.  

Since retiring from full time teaching in 2020 Don has studied clarinet repair with Bruce Marking, formerly the chief tech at Buffet-Crampon in the USA for 14 years.  He has also been working with renowned clarinet expert Lisa Canning, learning her exacting standards for clarinet set-up and repair.  Don and wife of 40 years, Julie (also a retired band director and fabulous flutist and flute teacher), have started Nathan Woodwind Services, specializing in clarinet and flute instruction and clarinet repair. In their spare time they enjoy being with family including two young grandchildren.