(hooray)
My name is Nate and this is my website.
I grew up in rural Western New York State surrounded by mostly cows and farmland. Through secondary school in the Pioneer Central District I pursued many interests and all subjects. The Arcade Area Youth Soccer League soccer and tennis with my brothers was my main summer activity from elementary through middle school years mixed with hours of playing my electric guitar in my bedroom and tinkering in the workshop building balsa wood, radio controlled and plastic models of airplanes, cars and boats. In high school I had a brief interest in biking (around 10 miles per day for several months) but much of my energy became devoted to studying music. I had my own guitars, Korg X3 synthesizer, Fostex 8-track audio cassette multitrack recorder (which still works), drumset (pieced together, never had many cymbals) and access to my dad's saxophone and clarinet. I decided that for my college studies I would follow the path of music performance. In preparation I took private lessons all through high school on saxophone and guitar. My guitar studies took me from lessons with Dave Constantino (Talas) at Limelight Music in East Aurora, NY to private lessons with Tony Scozzaro (Anthracite, Gamalon and G.I.T. alumni). On the saxophone I took lessons with Steve Rosenthal of the Amherst Saxophone Quartet, who had a strong connection with the University at Buffalo where I later attended college. My highest musical accomplishments in High School were winning principal chairs in All State and All Eastern musical ensembles through NYSSMA solo festival competitions. In the winter of 1996 I performed with the NYSSMA Conference All-State Wind Ensemble on tenor saxophone at the Concord Resort in central New York and in the following spring I performed with the 1997 MENC All Eastern Concert Band in Baltimore at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. It was also in high school that I discovered Drum and Bugle Corps and took an interest in learning to play drum-based percussion through rudiments and technical exercises.
In the fall of 1997 I enrolled in college at UB (State University of New York at Buffalo) as an honors student studying Music Performance on saxophone. I took lessons with Edward Yadzinski (Eastman School of Music) and later Susan Fancher (solo artist). During my time at UB my most memorable experiences involve percussion ensemble studies with Anthony Miranda (percussion virtuoso), wind ensemble concerts with Dr Sarah McKoin (director of bands, alumna of Dallas Wind Symphony), marching band with James Mauck (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), saxophone ensemble with Harry Fackelman (Amherst Saxophone Quartet) and concert band with Jon Nelson (Frank Zappa, Juilliard School of Music). While studying at UB I felt like I was missing something special, so to see what life was like someplace else I transferred for 2 years to the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. It was a little bit disappointing as well and I discovered that different areas of the United States have slightly varying cultures, and also that I seem to feel most comfortable where I live now (even if cold weather isn't my favorite). While there I studied saxophone with Todd Gentzel, conducting with Brad Genevro, timpani with Christopher Deane and marimba with SSG Rone Sparrow (United States Military Academy Band).
Currently I live in the Buffalo, NY area and spend my time modifying my car, taking photographs and various other things. My vehicle is a 2004 Java Black Subaru WRX Iimpreza that I purchased in February 2005. I kept it completely stock for about 3 years with the exception of replacing the factory radio with and Alpine head unit. In January of 2008 I experimented with different lowering springs and decided to go with Cobb Sport springs. The ride height is fairly low, but not as low as a coilover set could achieve. Since they are quite expensive, I will leave those for a future project someday perhaps. Other current modifications are a Go Fast Bits Stealth FX blow off valve with a slightly trimmed spring to avoid compressor surge at lower boost. For actual performance I have a Cobb Accessport v2.0and, ERZ exhaust system, VF-39 turbo, STi Pink 565cc injectors, STi intercooler and probably something else that I'm forgetting. It's not a racecar yet, but it's quicker than it was. The headlights are cleared out, but that was already done when I bought the car from Northtown Automotive, so I can't take any credit for that. I also have an STi sized carbon fiber hood scoop that I got from someone on eBay. For wheels I have a few sets now...My stock wheels are in the basement, a set of Racing Sparco Tarmac wheels with Falken Azenis RT-615 tires in 17" (pretty chewed up now) and my daily driver wheels, which are 5Zigen FN01r-c wheels in 18x7.5" with Falken Ziex 912 235/40 tires on them. =)
more to come in the future..
updated 11/10/2008
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