Nate Fanning is the Principal Trombone of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Nate has been guest principal Trombone with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company. Nate has also played with some of Canada’s leading orchestras including but not limited to the Toronto Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Opera de Québec, Orchestre Classique de Montreal, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Nate has also been engaged by the Stratford Festival. As a soloist, Nate has appeared with the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra and the Hannaford Youth Band.
His formal education started at Wilfrid Laurier University studying with Jay Castello and continued at the University of Toronto under Gordon Sweeney. Upon completion of his Masters degree, Nate was accepted into and completed the Artist Diploma program at the prestigious Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music where he studied with Gordon Wolfe. A member of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada under the direction of Boris Brott for the summers of 2009 and 2010, Nate has often been used as a mentor with the orchestra in subsequent seasons.
In 2015 Nate had the privilege of playing with Album and Group of the year winners The Arkells at the Juno awards in front of a nationally televised audience. Other artists Nate has shared the stage with include Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Grammy winners Evanescence and Sarah McLachlan, Billboard and Teen Choice Award winner Lindsey Stirling, Juno winner Johnny Reid, Sigur Ros and Il Divo. A big highlight of Nate’s career was playing in the pit while his father John Fanning sang the lead role in the world premiere of Brian Finley’s Opera The Pencil Salesman under the direction of Dan Warren at the Westben Arts Festival in 2016. Nate is an avid teacher and has been on faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University and Summer Music, a music camp in Port Elgin Ontario. Nate is also the music director and Organist for Knox United Church in the town of Ayr.
When not practicing, performing or teaching, Nate loves watching sports (especially his beloved Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, Browns, Norwich FC and Tiger- Cats) and spending time with his wife Amy and children Maggie and Matthew.